Minutes of Proceedings - 1996-11-20
Seventh Assembly First Session 19/11/1996 Parliamentary Record No. 28
__________________________________________________________________________________
Date : 20/11/1996__________________________________________________________________________________
1. MEETING:
2. PRAYERS.
3. VISITORS:
4. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR:
7. AMENDMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT - MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
9. HIGH COST OF LIVING - MOTION NEGATIVED:
AYES, 8 NOES, 13
Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
Mr Bell Mrs Braham
Mrs Hickey Mr Finch
Ms Martin Mr Hatton
Mr Rioli Dr Lim
Mr Stirling Mr Manzie
Mr Toyne Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
10. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES BILL 1996 (Serial 195):
11. YULARA TOURIST VILLAGE MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL 1996
12. SESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT - AUGUST 1996 REPORT - PAPER NOTED:
14. LONG SERVICE LEAVE AMENDMENT BILL AMENDMENT BILL 1996 (Serial 178):
AYES, 8 NOES, 13
Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
Mr Bell Mrs Braham
Mrs Hickey Mr Finch
Ms Martin Mr Hatton
Mr Rioli Dr Lim
Mr Stirling Mr Manzie
Mr Toyne Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
15. CARE OF THE DYING CONSULTATION BILL 1996 (Serial 155):
16. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 3) 1996 (Serial 197); and JURIES AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 198):
17. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (VALIDATION) BILL 1996 (Serial 196):
18. DISCHARGE OF BUSINESS:
19. ADJOURNMENT:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Date : 20/11/1996
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 Year 6/7 students from Jabiru Area School and their teachers, Ms Sandy Cartwright and Mr Tim Weeks; and Year 6 students from Nightcliff Primary School and their teacher Ms Jackie Murray.
- On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
4. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR:
- The Speaker advised Honourable Members that he had received the following Message from His Honour the Administrator -
Message No. 23
I, KEITH JOHN AUSTIN ASCHE, the Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, advise the Legislative Assembly that, pursuant to section 7 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, of the Commonwealth, I have given my assent to the following proposed laws:
5 September 1996:
- Bail Amendment Act 1996
Criminal Code Amendment Act (No. 5) 1996
Grain Marketing Act Repeal Act 1996
Justices Amendment Act 1996
Supreme Court Amendment Act 1996
17 September 1996:
- Criminal Code Amendment Act (No. 6) 1996
Mine Management Amendment Act 1996
Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority Amendment Act 1996
Police Administration Amendment Act (No. 2) 1996
Prisons (Correctional Services) Amendment Act 1996
Statute Law Revision Act 1996
26 September 1996:
- Appropriation Act 1996-97
- Legislative Assembly Members’ Superannuation Amendment Act 1996
Dated 17th day of October 1996.
(Sgd) AUSTIN ASCHE
Administrator
Administrator
- (Paper 2836)
- Questions were asked of Ministers.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Power and Water (Mr Manzie) laid on the Table the following Paper -
- Letter, Hon Daryl Manzie, MLA, Minister for Power and Water to Mrs Maggie Hickey, MLA, Member for Barkly, dated 18 September 1996 (Paper 2837).
Further questions were asked of Ministers.
- The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed) made a statement relating to the Environmental Impact Assessment of a proposed liquefied natural gas plant in Darwin and a subsea gas pipeline from the Timor Sea to Darwin Harbour (Paper 2838).
- Mr Reed moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
- Huge LNG project for Darwin, article by Mark Dixon, The Australian Financial Review, dated 20 November 1996 (Paper 2839).
____________________
- Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12.04 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.
____________________
- Debate resumed.
- Paper tabled: The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper -
- Draft Guidelines for an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Plant and Under Sea Pipeline, prepared by the Environment Protection Division, Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (Paper 2840).
- Question - put and passed.
7. AMENDMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT - MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
- The Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) moved - That this Assembly -
- (1) expresses the belief that all Australians wishing to vote in Federal Elections should be subject to the same conditions;
(2) expresses its concern that the Commonwealth Electoral Act operates to treat Territorians as second class citizens; and
(3) calls upon the Commonwealth Government and the Commonwealth Parliament to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act to ensure that Territorians are accorded the same opportunity as other Australians to vote in Federal Elections.
- Debate ensued.
- Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
- Australian Electoral Commission, Supplementary Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, AEC Responses to JSCEM Hearings of 25 October 1996, Canberra, dated 14 November 1996 (Paper 2841).
Debate continued.
The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) moved the following amendment -
Omit paragraph (2) and insert in its stead -
- “(2) expresses its condemnation of the previous ALP Member for the Northern Territory, Hon Warren Snowdon, and the previous Federal ALP Government who comprehensively failed to ensure that Territorians were treated equally with other Australians, for the purposes of the Commonwealth Electoral Act.”.
Debate ensued.
Omit the words “its condemnation of the previous ALP Member for the Northern Territory, Hon Warren Snowdon and the previous Federal ALP Government” and insert in their stead “its concern that previous Members for the Northern Territory and previous Federal Governments”.
Question - That the amendment moved by Mrs Hickey to the amendment proposed by Mr Stone, be agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -
AYES, 8 NOES, 14
Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
Mr Bell Mrs Braham
Mrs Hickey Mr Burke
Ms Martin Mr Finch
Mr Rioli Mr Hatton
Mr Stirling Dr Lim
Mr Toyne Mr Manzie
Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
Amendment moved by Mrs Hickey, negatived accordingly.
Question - That the amendment moved by Mr Stone, be agreed to - put and passed.
- Question - That the motion, as amended, be agreed to - put and passed.
- The Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) moved - That this Assembly:
- (1) recognises that the Northern Territory is a multicultural society which places value on all Territorians, irrespective of ethnic or racial descent;
(2) recognises the significant contribution which has been and continues to be made to the development of the Territory by Territorians of all ethnic and racial descent;
(3) affirms its support for the ongoing process of Aboriginal reconciliation and achieving greater understanding between Territorians of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal background;
(4) affirms its support for multiculturalism and a non-discriminatory immigration policy; and
(5) calls for discussion concerning Aboriginal reconciliation and multiculturalism to be based on the principles of tolerance, harmony and the Australian concept of a “fair go” for all.
Debate ensued.
Advertisement, ‘Make no mistake, this Saturday your vote puts in the party, not just the person’, N T News, dated 2 June 1994 (Paper 2842).
Debate continued.
- Programme, Multicultural Night Dinner, Dance and Performance organised by the Migrant Resource Centre of Central Australia (Paper 2843); and
Joint Statement from the Five Members of Parliament of Chinese Descent, signed by Hon Helen Sham-Ho, MLC, Hon Bernice Pfitzner, MLC, Senator Bill O’Chee, Dr Richard Lim, MLA and Mr Hong Lim, MLA, dated 24 October 1996 (Paper 2844).
Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
9. HIGH COST OF LIVING - MOTION NEGATIVED:
- The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey) moved - That this Assembly expresses its concern at -
- (a) the high cost of living for ordinary Territorians;
(b) the contribution that Government taxes and charges make to the high cost of living in the Territory; and
(c) the declining pay packets of Territory workers relative to workers elsewhere in Australia.
Debate ensued.
Papers tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Papers -
Graph, Population Growth, 1986 to 1995, Source: ABS Cat No. 3101.0 (Paper 2845);
Graph, State and Territory Population Growth Rates (December 1995), Source: ABS Cat No. 3101.0 (Paper 2846);
Graph, Home Loan Affordability Indicator, June Quarter 1996 (Paper 2847);
Graph, Water charges for Average Home Based on Annual Consumption of 550kL (Paper 2848);
Graph, Business Franchise Licence Fees - Petrol (Paper 2849);
Graph, Electricity Charges General Purpose Tariff (Paper 2850);
Graph, Electricity Charges - Domestic Tariff (Paper 2851);
Graph, Stamp Duty on Purchase of $140,000 Home (Paper 2852);
Graph, Stamp Duty on $400 Insurance Premium (annual) (Paper 2853);
Graph, Selected household Taxes and charges Average Home (Paper 2854);
Graph, Unemployment Rates, October 1995 to October 1996, Source: ABS Catalogue No. 6202.0 (Paper 2855);
Graph, Average Weekly Earnings by State as at May 1996, Source: ABS Catalogue No. 6302.0 (Paper 2856);
Graph, Payroll Tax Maximum Rates (Paper 2857);
Graph, Housing and Construction (Value of work), Source: ABS Cat. No. 8762.0, 8752.7 (Paper 2858);
Graph, Tourism Expenditure in the Northern Territory by Origin, Source: KCM Summary Report 1994/95 (Paper 2859);
Graph, Fisheries Production, Source: Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (Paper 2860);
Graph, Live Cattle Exports - Darwin Port (includes interstate cattle), Source, DPIF (Paper 2861);
Graph, Horticultural Production, Source: Dept of Primary Industry and Fisheries (Paper 2862);
Graph, Visitors to Major Northern Territory Parks, Source: Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory, Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta Parks (Paper 2863);
Graph, Mineral Production and Processing, Source: Dept of Mines and Energy (Paper 2864);
Graph, Mineral Exploration, Source: ABS Cat. No. 8412.0 (Paper 2876);
Graph, 10 Year - Total Capital Outlays, Source, Govt Financial Estimates ABS paper 5501.0 to 1995/96 and NT Treasury (Paper 2866);
Article, ‘Territory ‘action Budget’ aims to boost investment’ Maria Ceresa, The Australian, dated 14 August 1996 (Paper 2867);
Article, ‘Northern Territory Australia’s best kept secret’, Jill Rowbottam, Building Owner & Manager, dated July 1996 (Paper 2868);
Article, ‘A glimpse of life in the Northern Territory’, Shell Review, dated June 1996 (Paper 2869);
Article, ‘Territory economy is fastest growing’, N T News, dated 19 August 1996 (Paper 2870);
Property Supplement, The Weekend Australian, dated 10 -11 August 1996 (Paper 2871); and
Article, ‘Territory leads decade of growth’, Hans van Leeuwen, The Australian Financial Review, dated 14 August 1996 (Paper 2872).
Debate continued.
Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -
AYES, 8 NOES, 13
Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
Mr Bell Mrs Braham
Mrs Hickey Mr Finch
Ms Martin Mr Hatton
Mr Rioli Dr Lim
Mr Stirling Mr Manzie
Mr Toyne Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
- Motion negatived accordingly.
10. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES BILL 1996 (Serial 195):
- The Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to establish particular parliamentary committees and set out the functions, powers and areas of responsibility of those committees, and for related purposes.
- Bill read a first time.
Mrs Hickey moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
11. YULARA TOURIST VILLAGE MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL 1996
- (Serial 200):
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Yulara Tourist Village Management Act.
- Bill read a first time.
Mr Bell moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Paper tabled: Mr Bell, by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
Advertisement ‘Tour Service Operators Submissions Invited’, Centralian Advocate, dated 24 December 1993 (Paper 2873).
12. SESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT - AUGUST 1996 REPORT - PAPER NOTED:
- The order of the day having been read for resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Paper -
- Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.
- The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey), by leave, pursuant to Standing Order 54, made an explanation of comments made by the Member for Casuarina (Mr Adamson) during the debate on the Report of the Sessional Committee on the Environment, wherein he claimed that he had been misquoted by Mr Adamson.
14. LONG SERVICE LEAVE AMENDMENT BILL AMENDMENT BILL 1996 (Serial 178):
- 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 - That the Bill be now read a second time - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -
AYES, 8 NOES, 13
Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
Mr Bell Mrs Braham
Mrs Hickey Mr Finch
Ms Martin Mr Hatton
Mr Rioli Dr Lim
Mr Stirling Mr Manzie
Mr Toyne Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
- And so it was resolved in the negative.
Bill negatived accordingly.
15. CARE OF THE DYING CONSULTATION BILL 1996 (Serial 155):
- 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 negatived.
16. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 3) 1996 (Serial 197); and JURIES AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 198):
- Suspension of Standing Orders - Take two Bills together: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent two Bills, namely the Criminal Code Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1996 (Serial 197) and the Juries Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 198) -
- (a) being presented and read a first time together and one motion being put in regard to, respectively, the second readings, the Committee's report stage, and the third readings of the Bills together; and
(b) the consideration of the Bills separately in the Committee of the Whole.
Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
Mr Stone, at the request of and on behalf of the Attorney-General (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code; and a Bill for an Act to amend the Juries Act.
- Bills read a first time.
Mr Stone moved - That the Bills be now read a second time.
Paper tabled: Mr Stone laid on the Table the following Paper -
Statutory Formula Governing the Exercise of the Judicial Discretion to Discharge a Juror in other Australian Jurisdictions (Paper 2874).
On the motion of the Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) debate was adjourned.
17. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (VALIDATION) BILL 1996 (Serial 196):
- Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass all Stages: The Minister for Local Government (Mr Palmer) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Local Government (Validation) Bill 1996 (Serial 196) passing through all stages at these sittings.
Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
Mr Palmer, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to validate the constitution and subsequent actions of certain community government councils and for related purposes.
Bill read a first time.
- Mr Palmer moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) debate was adjourned.
18. DISCHARGE OF BUSINESS:
- The Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Manzie) moved - That the following Government Business, Orders of the Day, be discharged from the Notice Paper -
- No. 12 - relating to the Final Draft Constitution for the Northern Territory; and
No. 13 - relating to the Pastoral Land Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 64).
Question - put and passed.
19. ADJOURNMENT:
- The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
- Debate ensued.
And the Assembly having continued to sit until 12 midnight -
Thursday 21 November 1996 am
Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
And the Assembly adjourned at 00.37 a.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
===============================
- ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016