Sixth Assembly First Session 24/08/1993 Parliamentary Record No. 19
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

No. 78

Tuesday 24 August 1993 ________________________________________________________________ ____________

1.MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00 a.m., pursuant to adjournment.
The Speaker, the Honourable N.M. Dondas, took the Chair.

2.PRAYERS.

3.LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) moved - That
leave of absence be granted for the remainder of these
sittings to the Member for Braitling (Mr Vale) on account of
ill health.
Question - put and passed.

4.QUESTIONS:
Questions were asked of Ministers.
Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition
(Mr Bailey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper
-

Letter, from Mr D.J. Hawkes, Commissioner for Public Employment,
dated 11 August 1993.

Further questions were asked of Ministers.

5.PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE - VARIATION OF MEMBERSHIP:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) moved - That
the Member for Braitling (Mr Vale) be discharged from
further attendance on the Public Accounts Committee and the
Member for Goyder (Mr McCarthy) be appointed as a member of
the Committee in his stead.
Question - put and passed.

6.NORTHERN TERRITORY ABORIGINAL SACRED SITES AMENDMENT BILL
1993 (Serial 234):
The Member for Greatorex (Mr Collins), pursuant to notice,
presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Northern Territory
Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act by changing its short title to
the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority Act.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Collins moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Minister for Aboriginal Development
(Mr Hatton) debate was adjourned.

7.MARINE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY - MOTION NEGATIVED:
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), pursuant to notice,
moved - That this Assembly supports the establishment of a
Marine Resources Management Authority to manage, in an
ecologically sustainable fashion, the development and
conservation of our marine resources, including the issue of
access to our marine resources in local communities and to
commercial and recreational anglers.
Paper tabled: Mr Bell, by leave, laid on the Table the
following Paper -

Draft Bill - Marine Resources Management Authority Act.

Debate ensued.
____________________

Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between
12.05 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.
____________________

Debate resumed.
Question - put and negatived.

8.RESOURCES FOR WOMEN'S SERVICES - MOTION NEGATIVED:
The Member for Barkly (Mrs Hickey), pursuant to notice,
moved - That this Assembly expresses its concern about the
lack of adequate resources for services specifically
targeted to women.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Health and Community
Services (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper -

Health and Community Services - Women's Services 1992-93.

Debate continued.
Question - put and negatived.

9.FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL 1993 (Serial 268):
The Member for Greatorex (Mr Collins), pursuant to notice,
presented a Bill for an Act to give members of the public
the right to obtain information contained in the records of
the Government and its agencies and for related purposes.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Collins moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) moved the following amendment -

Add at the end of the motion:

"and that this Assembly expresses concern at the
CLP Government's failure to honour its election
promise to introduce Freedom of Information
Legislation.".

Debate ensued.
Leave denied: Mr Bell sought leave to lay on the Table a
draft Bill relating to Freedom of Information.
Objection being raised, leave denied.
Paper tabled: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by
leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

Law, Order and Public Safety Tomorrow pg. 3.

Debate continued.
Leave denied: Mr Bell sought leave to lay on the Table a
draft Bill relating to Freedom of Information.
Objection being raised, leave denied.
Suspension of Standing Orders - To table a document:
Mr Bell moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended
as would prevent him tabling a draft Bill relating to
Freedom of Information.
Question - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 9 NOES, 15

Mr Bailey Mr Collins
Mr Bell Mr Coulter
Mr Cartwright Mr Dondas
Mr Ede Mr Finch
Mrs Hickey Mr Hatton
Mr Lanhupuy Mr Manzie
Mr Parish Mr McCarthy
Mr Rioli Mr Ortmann
Mr Stirling Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Palmer
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

And so it was resolved in the negative.
Debate continued.
The Chief Minister (Mr Perron) moved - That the question
that the amendment be agreed to, be put.
Question - put and passed.
Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put and negatived.
On the motion of the Leader of Government Business
(Mr Setter) debate was adjourned.

10. NEED FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LEGISLATION - MOTION NEGATIVED:
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), pursuant to notice,
moved - That this Assembly believes that there is an urgent
need for freedom of information legislation in the Northern
Territory.
Point of Order: The Leader of Government Business
(Mr Setter) raised as a point of order that the motion as
moved by Mr Bell was in contravention of Standing Order 68.
Ruling of Speaker: The Speaker ruled that Mr Bell could
continue provided he made no reference to business already
on the Notice Paper.
And Mr Bell thereupon moved the following amendment -

Omit all words after "That" and insert in their stead -

"this Assembly expresses its concern at the
Government's failure to allow the tabling of the
Opposition's Freedom of Information draft
legislation".

Ruling of Speaker: The Speaker ruled that the proposed
amendment was out of order.
Suspension of Standing Orders - Proposed amendment to
motion: Mr Bell moved - That so much of Standing Orders be
suspended as would prevent him moving the following
amendment to the motion:

Omit all words after "That" and insert in their stead -

"this Assembly expresses its concern at the
Government's failure to allow the tabling of the
Opposition's Freedom of Information draft
legislation".

Mr Setter moved - That the question be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 14 NOES, 8

Mr Coulter Mr Bailey
Mr Dondas Mr Bell
Mr Finch Mr Cartwright
Mr Hatton Mr Ede
Mr Manzie Mrs Hickey
Mr McCarthy Mr Lanhupuy
Mr Ortmann Mr Parish
Mrs Padgham-Purich Mr Stirling
Mr Palmer
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Question - That Standing Orders be suspended - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 8 NOES, 14

Mr Bailey Mr Coulter
Mr Bell Mr Dondas
Mr Cartwright Mr Finch
Mr Ede Mr Hatton
Mrs Hickey Mr Manzie
Mr Lanhupuy Mr McCarthy
Mr Parish Mr Ortmann
Mr Stirling Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Palmer
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
And so it was resolved in the negative.
Mr Setter moved - That the question be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 14 NOES, 8

Mr Collins Mr Bailey
Mr Coulter Mr Bell
Mr Dondas Mr Cartwright
Mr Finch Mr Ede
Mr Hatton Mrs Hickey
Mr Manzie Mr Lanhupuy
Mr McCarthy Mr Parish
Mr Ortmann Mr Stirling
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 be agreed to - put and negatived.

11.SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS TO MOVE MOTION RELATING TO
WHISTLEBLOWERS LEGISLATION:
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) moved - That so much of
Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving a
motion forthwith relating to whistleblowers legislation.
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) moved - That
the question be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put and passed.
Question - That the motion to suspend standing orders be
agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 8 NOES, 14

Mr Bailey Mr Collins
Mr Bell Mr Coulter
Mr Cartwright Mr Dondas
Mr Ede Mr Finch
Mrs Hickey Mr Hatton
Mr Lanhupuy Mr Manzie
Mr Parish Mr McCarthy
Mr Stirling Mr Ortmann
Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

Motion negatived accordingly.

12.BRUCELLOSIS AND TUBERCULOSIS ERADICATION CAMPAIGN MATTERS,
REFERENCE TO PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE - MOTION NEGATIVED:
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), pursuant to notice,
moved - That - Whereas a significant number of beef
producers have suffered significant economic loss as a
result of the operation of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis
Eradication Campaign, the following matters be referred to
the Public Accounts Committee for investigation and report:

(1)the agreements between the Northern Territory
Government and Northern Territory beef producers;

(2)the operations and activities of Northern
Territory Government officials pursuant to those
agreements;

(3)Commonwealth and Northern Territory Government
relations as they have affected the implementation
of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication
Campaign in the Northern Territory; and

(4)whether or not the moneys paid under those
agreements and the operations and activities so
mentioned were fair and reasonable.

Debate ensued.
The Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries (Mr Reed)
moved - That the question be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 13 NOES, 10

Mr Coulter Mr Bailey
Mr Dondas Mr Bell
Mr Finch Mr Cartwright
Mr Hatton Mr Collins
Mr Manzie Mr Ede
Mr McCarthy Mrs Hickey
Mr Ortmann Mr Lanhupuy
Mr Palmer Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Perron Mr Parish
Mr Poole Mr Stirling
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 9 NOES, 14

Mr Bailey Mr Collins
Mr Bell Mr Coulter
Mr Cartwright Mr Dondas
Mr Ede Mr Finch
Mrs Hickey Mr Hatton
Mr Lanhupuy Mr Manzie
Mrs Padgham-Purich Mr McCarthy
Mr Parish Mr Ortmann
Mr Stirling Mr Palmer
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

Motion negatived accordingly.

13.ALLEGED CONNECTION BETWEEN POLITICAL DONATIONS AND BTEC -
MOTION NEGATIVED:
Suspension of Standing Orders - Move a motion forthwith:
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) moved - That so much of
Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him from
moving the following motion -

"That this Assembly expresses its concern at the
alleged connection between political donations and the
operations of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis
Eradication Campaign".

Question - put and passed - there being an absolute
majority of the whole number of Members present and no
dissentient voice.
Mr Bell thereupon moved - That this Assembly expresses its
concern at the alleged connection between political
donations and the operations of the Brucellosis and
Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and negatived.

14. LEGAL PRACTITIONERS AMENDMENT BILL 1993 (Serial 222):
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 resumed.
Question - put and negatived.

15. KAVA CONTROL BILL 1993 (Serial 221):
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 resumed.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Health and Community
Services (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper -

A Review of Kava Control Measures in the Northern Territory, by
Dr Peter d'Abbs, Menzies School of Health Research,
April 1993.

Debate continued.
Paper tabled: Mr Reed laid on the Table the following Paper -

Pamphlet - "Kava", Department of Health and Community Services.

Debate continued.
Question - put and negatived.

16. SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION AND TABLED PAPERS COMMITTEE - TWELFTH REPORT:
The Chairman of the Subordinate Legislation and Tabled
Papers Committee (Mr Setter) laid on the Table the Twelfth
Report of the Subordinate Legislation and Tabled Papers
Committee.

17. ADJOURNMENT:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) moved - That
the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Papers tabled: The Minister for Asian Relations and Trade
(Mr Stone), laid on the Table the following Papers -

Memorandum of Understanding between the China
Council for the Promotion of International Trade and
the Department of Industries and Development, Asian
Relations and Trade, dated 17 June 1993; and
Memorandum of Understanding on Business
Co-operation between the Sabah Economic Development
Corporation and the Northern Territory Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Inc, dated 24 June 1993.

Debate resumed.
Question - put and passed.
The Assembly adjourned at 11.06 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.

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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting except Mr Vale, on leave.