Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1995-11-22

Seventh Assembly First Session 21/11/1995 Parliamentary Record No. 17
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Date : 22/11/1995
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1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10.00 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker, the Honourable T.R. McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of students from Year 6/7 at St Paul's Primary School and their teachers Ms Cath Kelly and Mr Paul Humphries.
      On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

4. FILMING IN THE CHAMBER:
    The Speaker advised Honourable Members that permission had been given to Channel 8 to film in the Chamber today for the purposes of updating file footage.

5. PETITIONS:
    The Member for Nightcliff (Mr Hatton), by leave, presented a petition, not conforming with Standing Orders, from 80 petitioners requesting the Assembly provide funding to establish a school at the Yantjarrwu Outstation (Paper 2074).
      Petition read.
    The Member for Nightcliff (Mr Hatton), by leave, presented a petition, not conforming with Standing Orders, from 63 petitioners requesting the Assembly provide financial assistance for sporting and recreational equipment for Outstations (Paper 2075).
      Petition read.

6. QUESTIONS:
    Questions were asked of Ministers.
7. QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED - STATEMENT:
    The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede), by leave, made a statement relating to the practice in the House of Representatives of the Speaker writing to Ministers to request replies to Questions placed on the Question Paper that have not been answered within 3 months.
      The Speaker advised that he would consider the matter and report at a later date.

8. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
    The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey), pursuant to Standing Order 57, made a personal explanation relating to comments made the Chief Minister (Mr Stone) during Question Time this day relating to the Cannonball Run.


9. FURTHER NOTICE:
    The following further notice was given, by leave -
      Mr Hatton: To present the Rights of the Terminally Ill Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 121).

10. METHADONE PROGRAM IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY - MOTION NEGATIVED:
    The Member for MacDonnell (Mr Bell) moved - That this Assembly resolves to amend the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act to allow the provision of a best practice methadone maintenance program in the Northern Territory.
      Paper tabled: Mr Bell, by leave laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Statements from the Plenary Session of the conference Narcotic Use and Abuse in the Northern Territory, Northern Territory Branch of the Australian Medical Association Inc, dated 5 November 1995 (Paper 2078).
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      Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11.52 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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      Debate resumed.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Article, Heroin bust sparks NT drug crisis, by John Loizou, Sunday Territorian, dated 23 July 1995 (Paper 2079);
      Transcript, 8DDD News Broadcast 10.00 a.m., 24 July 1995 (Paper 2080);
      Transcript, Interview, Kevin Naughton and Dr Phillip Nitschke, dated 24 July 1995 (Paper 2081);
      Media Memo, ABC Drive Preview, dated 27 July 1995 (Paper 2082); and
      Article, One-way ticket the NTs answer, N T News, dated 28 July 1995 (Paper 2083).
      Debate continued.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin), by leave, laid on the Table the following paper -
      Letter, Ms Jude Ellen to Ms Clare Martin, MLA, Member for Fannie Bay, dated 27 October 1995 (Paper 2085).
      Debate continued.
      Question - put and negatived.

11. PAPER TABLED:
    The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) laid on the Table the following paper from which he had quoted during the previous debate -
      Address, The Evolution of Public Health Policy on Narcotics in the Northern Territory, by Hon Fred Finch, MLA, Minister for Health Services, dated 5 November 1995 (Paper 2084).

12. POLICE ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 120):
    The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Police Administration Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Ede moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) debate was adjourned.

13. DISTRIBUTION OF COMMONWEALTH GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT - MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
    The Member for Arnhem (Mr Ah Kit) moved - That this Assembly -
      (1) supports the distribution of Commonwealth Grants to Local Governments to the States and Territories on a needs basis;
        (2) expresses its disappointment at the failure of the Chief Minister to raise the above matter at the recent meeting of Premiers and Chief Ministers;
        (3) calls for the distribution of the Northern Territory Government assistance to Local Government on a needs basis;
        (4) calls for an increase in Northern Territory expenditure on community services; and
        (5) forwards the terms of the Resolution and the relevant transcript of proceedings to all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers with responsibility for Local Government.
      Debate ensued.
      The Minister for Local Government (Mr Manzie) moved the following amendment -
        Omit all words after the first paragraph and insert the following:
        (2) supports the continued action of the Chief Minister and the Minister for Local Government in vigorously pursuing equitable treatment for Territorians in the distribution of Local Government funding;
        (3) recognises the present unfair situation whereupon the Commonwealth distributes Local Government funding to the Northern Territory on a per capita basis but requires the Northern Territory to distribute these same funds on a needs basis; and
        (4) calls upon the Federal Member for the Northern Territory to support this Assembly and the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory in our quest to achieve Local Government funding equity with other Australians..

      Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put.


      The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

      AYES, 17 NOES, 8

      Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
      Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
      Mr Bell Mrs Braham
      Mr Burke Mr Ede
      Mr Coulter Mrs Hickey
      Mr Finch Ms Martin
      Mr Hatton Mr Rioli
      Dr Lim Mr Stirling
      Mr Manzie
      Mr McCarthy
      Mr Mitchell
      Mrs Padgham-Purich
      Mr Palmer
      Mr Poole
      Mr Reed
      Mr Setter
      Mr Stone

      And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
      Question - That the motion, as amended, be agreed to - put and passed.

14. COURTS INTERPRETER SYSTEM - MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
    The Member for MacDonnell (Mr Bell) moved - That this Assembly expresses its concern about the hampering of the operation of the criminal justice system through the lack of an effective Courts Interpreter system.
      Papers tabled: Mr Bell, by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Paper, Some Shortcomings in the Use of Aboriginal Language in the Criminal Justice System in the Northern Territory by Neil Bell, dated October 1994 (Paper 2086); and
      Transcript, Mango/Cameron, dated 11 May 1994 (Paper 2087).
      Debate ensued.
      Paper tabled: The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Draft Action Plan, Interpreters and Translators in Aboriginal Languages Office of Aboriginal Development, dated November 1995 (Paper 2088).
      The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) moved the following amendment -
      Omit all words after That and insert in their stead the following -
      this Assembly notes the initiatives being taken by the Northern Territory Government to improve Interpreter Services, and particularly notes the positive impact these initiatives will have on the Criminal Justice System..
      Debate continued.
      Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put and passed.
      Question - That the motion, as amended, agreed to - put and passed.

15. NORTHERN TERRITORY LAND CORPORATION AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 99):
    The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time -
      Debate ensued.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Land Title Search of land held by the Northern Territory Land Corporation (Paper 2089); and
      Calculator strip list of values of Unimproved Capital value of land held by the Northern Territory Land Corporation (Paper 2090).
      Debate continued.
      Question - That the Bill be read a second time - put.
      The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

AYES, 8 NOES, 16

Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
Mr Bell Mrs Braham
Mr Ede Mr Burke
Mrs Hickey Mr Finch
Ms Martin Mr Hatton
Mr Rioli Dr Lim
Mr Stirling Mr Manzie
Mr McCarthy
Mr Mitchell
Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
    Question - put and negatived.

16. LANDS ACQUISITION AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 104):
    The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time -
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
      Bill read a second time.
    The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed), by leave, moved - That the Bill be now read a third time.
      Question - That the Bill be now read a third time - put.

      The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

AYES, 15 NOES, 8

Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
Mr Baldwin Mr Bailey
Mrs Braham Mr Bell
Mr Burke Mr Ede
Mr Finch Mrs Hickey
Mr Hatton Ms Martin
Dr Lim Mr Rioli
Mr Manzie Mr Stirling
Mr Mitchell
Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
    And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
    The Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

17. SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION AND TABLED PAPERS COMMITTEE - FIRST REPORT - PAPER TABLED:
    The Chairman of the Subordinate Legislation and Tabled Papers Committee (Mr Setter) laid on the Table the First Reportof the Subordinate Legislation and Tabled Papers Committee (Paper 2091).

18. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      Papers tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Darwin Symphony Orchestra , The Nabalco Symphony Under the Stars Tour Program, Nhulunbuy, 5 October 1995 (Paper 2092);
      Darwin Symphony Orchestra, The BHP GEMCO Symphony Under the Stars Tour Program, Alyangula, 7 October 1995 (Paper 2093); and
      Darwin Symphony Orchestra, The ERA Symphony Under the Stars Reflections on the Lake Tour Program, Jabiru, 14 October 1995 (Paper 2094).
      Debate continued.
      Question - put and passed.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 10.56 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
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PAPERS:
    The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Wednesday 22 November 1995:
    Community Government Schemes:
    Wallace Rockhole, Replacement Scheme (Paper 2077)
    Walangeri Ngumpinku (Paper 2076)
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    ATTENDANCE:
    All Members attended the sitting.
    Ian McNeill
    Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016