Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2002-08-15

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

    2. PRAYERS.

    3. MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATOR:
        The Speaker laid on the Table Message No. 7 from His honour the Administrator advising of his assent to proposed laws passed by the Assembly during the June 2002 sittings which read as follows:
        Message No. 7
        Assent to Proposed laws

        I, JOHN CHRISTOPHER ANICTOMATIS, the Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, advise the Legislative Assembly of, pursuant to section 7 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government Act) 1978 of the Commonwealth, the assent to the following proposed laws:

        28 June 2002
            Supply Act 2002-2003 (No. 24 of 2002)

        5 July 2002
            Criminal Code Amendment (Witness Intimidation) Act 2002 (No. 25 of 2002)
            Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) Amendment Act 2002 (No. 26 of 2002)
            Prisons (Correctional Services) Amendment Act 2002 (No. 27 of 2002)

        16 July 2002
            Local Government Amendment Act 2002 (No. 28 of 2002)
            Oil Refinery Agreement Ratification Act Repeal Act 2002 (No. 29 of 2002)
            Mining Amendment Act 2002 (No. 30 of 2002)
            Public Order and Anti-Social Conduct Act Repeal Act 2002 (No. 31 of 2002)
            Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2002 (No. 32 of 2002)
            Misuse of Drugs (Consequential Amendments) Act 2002 (No. 33 of 2002)
            Criminal Property Forfeiture Act 2002 (No. 34 of 2002)
            Criminal Property Forfeiture (Consequential Amendments) Act 2002 (No. 35 of 2002)
          Dated 12 August 2002.
          Sgd
          J C Anictomatis
          Administrator (Paper 467)
      4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
          E Learning: The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) made a report outlining a new initiative in providing and funding interactive learning studies for rural communities.
          Mr Mills responded thereto.
          Mr Stirling responded accordingly.

          Outback Digital Network: The Minister for Communications (Dr Toyne) made a report advising of the governments partnership with the federal government in the provision of electronic infrastructure to rural communities.
          Dr Lim responded thereto.
          Dr Toyne responded accordingly.

          Casuarina Coastal Reserve: The Minister for the Environment (Mr Vatskalis) made a report on a new management plan for the Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
          Paper tabled: The Minister for the Environment (Mr Vatskalis) laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Casuarina Coastal Reserve Management Plan, August 2002 by Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment (Paper 468).

          Mr Elferink responded thereto.
          Mr Vatskalis responded accordingly.

          Senior’s Housing: The Minister for Housing (Mr Ah Kit) reported on the provision of housing for senior Territorians provided through the Territory Housing agency.
          Dr Lim responded thereto.
          Mr Ah Kit responded accordingly.

          Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Sessional Order.
      5. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
          The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stirling) moved – That Government Business, Orders of the Day, Nos 1 to 3 be rearranged and considered in the following order –

          1. Pay-roll Tax Amendment Bill 2002 (Serial 73).
          2. Statute Law Revision (Provisions) Bill 2002 (Serial 64).
          3. Economic Development Strategy for the Territory.

          Question – put and passed.
      6. ORDER OF BUSINESS - CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND FAIR TRADING AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 2002 (Serial 81):
          The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne) moved – That consideration of Government Business, Notice No. 1. relating to the presentation of the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2002 (Serial 81) be postponed until a later hour.
          Question – put and passed.
      7. STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL (No. 2) 2002 (Serial 80):
          The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to revise and correct the law of the Territory in minor respects.
          Bill read a first time.
          Dr Toyne moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
          Debate ensued.
          On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Elferink) debate was adjourned.
      8. PAY-ROLL TAX AMENDMENT BILL 2002 (Serial 73):
          The Order of the Day having been read for resumption of 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.
      9. STATUTE LAW REVISION (FINANCIAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2002 (Serial 64):
          The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time -
          Debate resumed.
          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)

          Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
          On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne) the following amendment was agreed to -
          Schedule 1 – Omit the whole item relating to Financial Management Act.

          On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne) the following amendment was agreed to -
          Schedule 2 – Omit the whole item relating to Financial Management Regulations.

          Bill, as amended, agreed to.
          Bill to be reported with amendments.
          ––––––––––––––––
          The Assembly resumed; the Speaker (Mrs Braham) resumed the Chair; and the Chairman (Mr Wood) reported that the Committee had considered the Bill and agreed to the same with amendments.

          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.
      10. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT NOTED:
          The Order of Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement –

          Debate resumed.
          Debate suspended.
          ––––––––––––––––
          Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.55pm and 2.00pm.
          ––––––––––––––––
      11. VISITORS:
          The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of Ms Anne McEwen, Branch Secretary, Australian Services Union and Mr Andrew Dennard, Branch Assistant Secretary, Australian Services Union.
          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
      12. NOTICES:
          Mr Stirling: To present the Gaming Control Amendment Bill 2002 (Serial 82).
          Mr Stirling: To present the Gaming Machine Amendment Bill 2002 (Serial 83).
          Mrs Aagaard: To present the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Amendment Bill 2002 (Serial 79).
          Ms Martin: To present the Financial Management Amendment Bill 2002 (Serial 88).
          Mr Wood: To move – That, Sections 1812, 1813, 1814, 1819 and 1791 Hundred of Ayres excluding the Phillips’ LNG site are “rezoned OC [Open Space – Conservation]” and included in a future National Marine Conservation Park for Darwin Harbour.
          Mr Wood: To move - That, the government cease any further industrial development in the Wickham Point area specifically land and sea covered by sections 1812, 1813, 1814, 1819 and 1791 Hundred of Ayres excluding the Phillips LNG site.
          Mr Wood: To move - That, the government initiate a public assessment of alternative industrial development sites in the Darwin region, eg along the proposed corridor from East Arm to Glyde Point.
      13. QUESTIONS:
          2.01pm Mr Burke to Ms Martin.
          2.07pm Ms Scrymgour to Mr Ah Kit.
          2.11pm Mr Reed to Ms Martin.
          2.14pm Mr McAdam to Mr Henderson.
          2.19pm Ms Carney to Mr Henderson.
          2.25pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.26pm Dr Burns to Dr Toyne.
          2.29pm Mr Dunham to Ms Martin.
          2.32pm Mr McAdam to Henderson.
          2.37pm Mr Maley to Ms Martin.
          2.42pm Mr Bonson to Mr Stirling.
          2.46pm Ms Carney to Mr Henderson.
          Paper tabled: The Member for Araluen (Ms Carney), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Letter, Mr Rick Paul, NT Car Rental Council to Ms C Martin, Chief Minister, dated 17 May 2002 re Motor Vehicle Levy (Paper 469).

          2.52pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.54pm Mr Reed to Ms Martin.

          The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stirling) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
      14. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT NOTED:
          Resumption of debate on the question, suspended earlier this day – That the Assembly take note of the statement –

          Debate resumed.
          On the motion of the Member for Karama (Ms Lawrie) debate was adjourned.
      15. POWER AND WATER AUTHORITY INCORPORATION AS A GOVERNMENT OWNED CORPORATION – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
          The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) made a statement relating to the corporatisation of the Territory’s largest trading enterprise, the Power and Water Authority (Paper 470).
          Papers tabled: The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) laid on the Table the following Papers –
      Power Water, Statement of Corporate Intent, 2002/2003 (Paper 471);
      Constitution of the Power and Water Corporation by Clayton Utz (Paper 472);
      Formal Instrument of Agreement – Banking Services, extract of Guarantee Provisions from Schedule 4 – Set Off Facility (Paper 473); and
      Deed made between the Northern Territory of Australia and Director (Paper 474).
          Ms Martin moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
          Debate ensued.
          Ordered – That the Member for Drysdale (Mr Dunham) have leave to continue his remarks later during debate.
          Debate continued.
          On the motion of the Member for Katherine (Mr Reed) debate was adjourned.

      16. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE TERRITORY – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
          The Minister for Parks and Wildlife (Mr Vatskalis) made a statement relating to new management arrangements to address conservation and natural resources within the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment. (Paper 476)
          Mr Vatskalis moved – The Assembly take note of the Statement.
          Debate ensued.
          Paper tabled: The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Advertisement, Job vacancy for Senior Maintenance Officer, Power and Water Authority, Northern Territory News (Paper 475).

          Debate continued.
          Question – put and passed.
      17. ADJOURNMENT:
          The Minister for Community Development (Mr Ah Kit) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
          Debate ensued.
          Paper tabled: The Member for Johnston (Dr Burns), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
      The 2001 Northern Territory Election by Gayl McKay (Paper 477).

          Debate continued.
          Paper tabled: The Member for Araluen (Ms Carney), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Press release – The Office for Central Australia (Paper 478).

          Debate continued.
          Question – put and passed.
          And the Assembly adjourned at 20.48pm until Tuesday 20 August 2002 at 10am.
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          ATTENDANCE:
          All Members attended the sitting.
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016