Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2001-11-29

1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable L. M. Braham, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. PETITION:
The Member for Blain (Mr Mills), by leave, presented a petition, not conforming with Standing Orders, from 192 petitioners relating to provision of a home ground for the Palmerston Magpies Football Club. (Paper 149)
Petition read.

4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
New infrastructure investment: The Minister for Territory Development (Ms Martin) made a statement on the planning for future infrastructure development in the Territory.
Debate ensued.
Debate concluded.

Taxi and hire car licencing: The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure (Mr Vatskalis) made a statement on a proposal to introduce a moratorium on the issue of taxi and hire car licences for 6 months.
Debate ensued.
Debate concluded.

Disability services: The Minister for Health and Community Services (Mrs Aagaard) made a statement relating to health and disability services.
Debate ensued.
Debate concluded.

Reports noted, pursuant to Sessional Order.

5. FISCAL INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY BILL 2001 (Serial 13):
The Order for the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time –
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Member for Johnston (Dr Burns), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Graph, The Crocodile’s Jaws (Underlying Budget Position) N T News , dated 29 November 2001 (Paper 150).

Debate continued.
Debate suspended.
Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 12.07pm and 2pm.
6. QUESTIONS:
2.05pm Mr Burke to Ms Martin.
2.12pm Mr Kiely to Ms Martin.
2.18pm Mr Elferink to Ms Martin.
2.21pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
2.23pm Mr Bonson to Mr Henderson.
2.28pm Mr Maley to Ms Martin.

Paper ordered to be tabled: The Member for Goyder (Mr Maley) having referred to a graph while asking a question –
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stirling) asked that, pursuant to Standing Order 256, the Member for Goyder Table the graph he had referred to.
Mr Maley thereupon Tabled the following Paper –
Graph of business levels of confidence in the Territory economy, Yellow Pages Business Index – Small and Medium Enterprises (Sweeney Research) – November 2001). (Paper 155)
2.34pm Dr Burns to Mr Ah Kit.
2.41pm Mr Reed to Mr Vatskalis.
2.44pm Ms Lawrie to Dr Toyne.
2.49pm Ms Scrymgour to Mr Ah Kit.
2.57pm Mr Reed to Mr Vatskalis.
2.59pm Mr Wood to Dr Toyne.
3pm Mr Kiely to Ms Martin.

The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stirling) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.

7. FISCAL INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY BILL 2001 (Serial 13):
Continuation of suspended debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time -
Debate resumed.
Question – put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
On the motion of the Treasurer (Ms Martin) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

8. GOVERNMENT OWNED CORPORATIONS BILL 2001 (Serial 21) and POWER AND WATER AUTHORITY AMENDMENT BILL 2001 (Serial 22):
The Order for the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time –
Debate ensued.
Question – put and passed.
Bills read a second time.
The Assembly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bills.

(In Committee)
(Chairman Mr Wood)

Government Owned Corporations Bill 2001 (Serial 21):

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
On the motion of the Chief Minister (Ms Martin) the following amendment was agreed to, after debate –
Omit from clause 20, Part 2D and substitute, Part 2D.1 of Chapter 2D.

Debate continued on the Bill as a whole.
Debate concluded.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill to be reported with an amendment.

Power and Water Authority Amendment Bill 2001 (Serial 22):

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
On the motion of the Chief Minister (Ms Martin) the following amendment was agreed to, after debate.
Schedule –
Insert before the item relating to sections 14A(3), 14B and 14C, the following –

Section 14A(3) Authority's Corporation's

Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill to be reported with an amendment.

The Assembly resumed; the Speaker resumed the Chair; and the Chairman (Mr Wood) reported that the Committee had considered the Bills and agreed to –
Government Owned Corporations Bill 2001 (Serial 21), with an amendment; and
Power and Water Authority Amendment Bill 2001 (Serial 22), with an amendment.

On the motion of the Treasurer (Ms Martin) the Bills were read a third time and passed to be proposed laws.

9. NEXT MEETING:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stirling) moved – That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 26 February 2002 at 10am or such other time and/or date as may be set by Madam Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
Question – put and passed.

10. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stirling) moved – That Government Business, Order of the Day No.5, relating to the continuance of debate on the November 2001 Mini Budget Statement be deferred to the last item on the Notice Paper.
Question – put and passed.

11. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 3) 2001 (Serial 1):
The Order for the Day having been read for the resumption of 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 Assembly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bill.

(In Committee)
(Chairman Mr Wood)

Clauses 2 and 3, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 4 read.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.
Clause 4, as printed, agreed to.
Clause 5, as printed, agreed to.
Clause 6, as printed, agreed to.
Clause 1, as printed, agreed to.
Remainder of the Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill to be reported as a whole, without amendment.
The Assembly resumed; the Speaker resumed the Chair; and the Chairman (Mr Wood) reported that the Committee had considered the Bill and agreed to the same without amendment.

On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

12. AUGUST 2001 REPORT OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY – REPORT NOTED:
The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Report –
Debate resumed.
Question – put and passed.

13. REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL REPORT AND DETERMINATION No. 2 OF 2001 – MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY – REPORT NOTED – REPORT DISALLOWED:
The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Report –
Remuneration Tribunal Report and Determination No. 2 of 2001 – Ministers and Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly – Disallowance of Determination: The Chief Minister (Ms Martin), by leave, moved - That this Assembly, pursuant to section 9(4) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act, disapprove the Remuneration Tribunal Determination No. 2 of 2001 – Ministers and Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.
Debate ensued.
Question – put and passed.
Main question – That the Assembly take note of the Report -
Question – put and passed.

14. PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT AND MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2001 (Serial 14):
The Order for the Day having been read for the resumption of 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 Assembly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bill.

(In Committee – Chairman Mr Wood)

Clause 1 read and agreed to.
On the motion of the Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) the following new clause was inserted in the Bill, after debate –

1A. Delegation by Chief Executive officers
Section 27 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act is amended by inserting after subsection (1)(a) the following:

"(aa) a person appointed to an office under an Act the administration of the provisions of which is allotted to his or her Agency;".

Clause 2 read.
On the motion of the Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) the following amendment was agreed to -

Omit all words after, “is amended” and insert in its stead, by omitting the following items:
"Office of the Commissioner for Public EmploymentCommissioner";
"Office of the Director of Public ProsecutionsDirector of Public Prosecutions".

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.
Remainder of the Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill to be reported with amendments.

The Assembly resumed; the Speaker resumed the Chair; and the Chairman (Mr Wood) reported that the Committee had considered the Bill and agreed to the same with amendments.

The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) moved – That the Bill be now read a third time.
Debate ensued.
Question – put and passed.
The Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

15. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT No. 37 FOR YEAR END 30 JUNE 2001 – PAPER TABLED – MOTION TO NOTE REPORT:
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (Dr Burns) laid on the Table the Annual Report of the Public Accounts Committee for the Year ended 30 June 2001, dated October 2001. (Paper 160)
Dr Burns moved – That the Report be printed.
Question – put and passed.
Dr Burns moved – That the Assembly take note of the Report.
Debate ensued.
On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Burke) debate was adjourned.

16. NOVEMBER 2001 MINI-BUDGET – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement –
Debate resumed.
On the motion of the Member for Port Darwin (Ms Carter) debate was adjourned.

17. ADJOURNMENT:
The Minister for Community Development (Mr Vatskalis) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Question – put and passed.
And the Assembly adjourned at 22.46pm, Thursday 29 November 2001 until 10am on Tuesday 26 February 2002 or such other time and/or date as may be set by Madam Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
PAPERS:
The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 29 November 2001:

Annual Reports:
AustralAsia Railway Corporation, 2000/2001 (Paper 159)
Darwin Port Corporation, 2000/2001 (Paper 152)
Department of the Legislative Assembly, 2000/2001 (Paper 162)
Department of Transport and Works, 2000/2001 (Paper 158)
Legislative Assembly Member’s Superannuation Trust, 2000/2001 (Paper 156)
Northern Territory Road Safety Council, 2000/2001 (Paper 153)
Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, 2000/2001 (Paper 157)
Police, Fire and Emergency Services, 2000/2001 (Paper 163)
Territory Housing, 2000/2001 (Paper 154)

Financial Statements:
Auditor-Generals Report to the Treasurer, Northern Territory Government Conditions of Service Trust, period ended 22 June 2001 (Paper 151)
ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings.

Ian McNeill
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016