Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2008-02-19

1. MEETING:
      The Assembly met at 12.04pm. The Speaker, the Honourable J. L. Aagaard, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES MEMBERSHIP, CHANGES - PAPERS TABLED:
      The Speaker laid on the Table a letter from the Leader of Government Business (Ms Lawrie) advising the Assembly of Committee membership changes, with effect from 18 February 2008 (Paper 1235), and are as follows -

      Environment and Sustainable Development Committee
      Discharge the Member for Daly, Mr Knight
      Appoint the Member for Arnhem, Ms McCarthy

      Substance Abuse Committee
      Discharge the Member for Daly, Mr Knight
      Appoint the Member for Port Darwin, Ms Sacilotto

      Sport and Youth Committee
      Discharge the Member for Daly, Mr Knight
      Appoint Member for Macdonnell, Ms Anderson

      The Leader of Government Business (Ms Lawrie) moved - That the Assembly agree to the changes to the membership of Assembly Committees as contained in the letter Tabled by the Speaker.
      Question - put and passed.

4. MINISTRY AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS OF GOVERNMENT - PAPER TABLED:
      The Treasurer (Ms Lawrie) laid on the Table the Administrative Arrangements Order of Government, Gazette No.S8 of 15 February 2008. (Paper 1236)
      Ms Lawrie advised Members of the appointment of Mr James Burke as Government Whip, effective 18 February 2008.

      PAUL HENDERSON
      Chief Minister
      Police, Fire and Emergency Services
      Major Projects and Trade
      Climate Change
      Territory-Federal Relations and Statehood
      Information, Communications and Technology Policy
      Multicultural Affairs

      MARION SCRYMGOUR
      Employment, Education and Training
      Family and Community Services
      Child Protection
      Indigenous Policy
      Arts and Museum
      Women’s Policy

      DELIA LAWRIE
      Treasurer
      Planning and Lands
      Infrastructure and Transport
      Public Employment

      CHRIS BURNS
      Health
      Justice and Attorney-General
      Racing, Gaming and Licensing
      Alcohol Policy

      KON VATSKALIS
      Business and Economic Development
      Tourism
      Housing
      Asian Relations
      Regional Development
      Defence Support
      Essential Services

      CHRIS NATT
      Primary Industry and Fisheries
      Mines and Energy

      LEN KIELY
      Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage
      Parks and Wildlife

      MATTHEW BONSON
      Sport and Recreation
      Corporate and Information Services
      Senior Territorians
      Young Territorians
      Assisting the Chief Minister on Multicultural Affairs

      ROB KNIGHT
      Local Government
      Central Australia

5. PETITIONS:
      The Member for Barkly (Mr McAdam) presented Petition No. 70 from 1478 petitioners requesting a regional prison be located in Tennant Creek (Paper 1237).
      Petition read.

6. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
      WWII Heritage Sites: The Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage (Mr Kiely) reported on new additions to the Territory Heritage Register.
      Mrs Miller responded.
      Mr Wood responded.
      Mr Kiely replied.

      Defence Support Hub: The Minister for Defence Support (Mr Vatskalis) reported on the growing defence support provided by local businesses and local contractors and the economic benefits to the Territory economy.
      Ms Carney responded.
      Mr Wood responded.
      Mr Vatskalis replied.

      Education School Year 2008: The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Ms Scrymgour) reported on 32,000 students returning to school and the government's plan to improve literacy and numeracy in middle years of schooling together with the adoption of a compulsory school uniform policy for 2008.
      Mr Mills responded.
      Mrs Braham responded.
      Ms Scrymgour replied.

      Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Standing Orders.

7. PERSONAL EXPLANATION - MEMBER FOR NELSON:
      The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) made a personal explanation in relation to comments made by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport (Ms Lawrie) in regard to the proposed rezoning application to expand the existing commercial zone (C) and rezone the remaining land at Coolalinga RR rural living for establishment of caravan parks - tourist category zoning and commercial zoning developments at Coolalinga contained in a letter Mr Wood wrote to the Planning Consent Authority and tabled by Ms Lawrie 14 February 2008 (Paper 1238).

8. WORKERS REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION AMENDMENT BILL 2008 (Serial 135):
      The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Ms Scrymgour), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Ms Scrymgour moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      Debate ensued.
      Paper tabled: Ms Scrymgour laid on the Table the following Paper -
Explanatory Statement, Workers Rehabilitation And Compensation Amendment Bill 2008 (Serial 135) (Paper 1239).

      On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills) debate was adjourned.

9. LIQUOR LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2008 (Serial 134):
      The Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing (Dr Burns), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Liquor Act and Liquor Regulations, and for other purposes.
      Bill read a first time.
      Dr Burns moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      Debate ensued.
      Paper tabled: Dr Burns laid on the Table the following Paper -
Explanatory Statement, Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (Paper 1240).

      On the motion of the Member for Katherine (Mrs Miller) debate was adjourned.
      ________________

      Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 1.03pm and 2pm.
      ________________

10. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR:
      The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker's Gallery of the Mr Earl Irving, Consul General of the United States of America.
      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitor.

11. NOTICES:
      The following Notices were given:
      Mr Mills: To present the Public Authorities Advertising Bill 2008 (Serial 139).

      Mr Mills: To present the Criminal Code Amendment (Assaults on Public Sector Employees, Ambulance Officers and Drivers of Commercial Passenger Vehicles) Bill 2008 (Serial 136).

      Mr Mills: To move - That,

              This Assembly call upon the,
              (a) Northern Territory Government to stop the Local Government Reform process; and

              (b) Chief Minister to outline a genuine community engagement strategy to regain the trust of Territorians before resuming the Local Government Reform process.

      Mrs Braham: To move - That,
              1. The Northern Territory Government acknowledge the growth of litter, the cost of waste management, and the increasing demand for landfill are major issues for the Northern Territory environment, and its towns and communities;

              2. The Northern Territory Government acknowledge the effectiveness of Container Deposit Legislation in cleaning up container waste; and

              3. The Northern Territory Government commit funding to establish a Container Deposit Scheme to cover all the Northern Territory.

      Mrs Miller: To move - That this Assembly call upon the Territory government to extend the operation of the Pensioner's Travel Scheme to include Intra-state Travel.
      Mr Conlan: To move - That this Assembly call upon the Northern Territory Government to review its refusal to allow patients in Central Australia to access PATS for the purpose of travelling interstate when afflicted with a disease that may be treated by oncology services based in Darwin, and to increase and expand the rates to allow for a spouse or a family member to accompany patients.
12. QUESTIONS:
      2.03pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
      2.06pm Ms Sacilotto to Mr Henderson.
      2.11pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
      2.17pm Ms McCarthy to Mr Henderson.
      2.21pm Mr Hampton to Mr Knight.
      2.23pm Mrs Braham to Ms Scrymgour and referred to Dr Burns.
      2.28pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
      2.31pm Ms Anderson to Ms Scrymgour.
      2.37pm Ms Carney to Mr Henderson.
      2.40pm Mr Burke to Dr Burns.
      2.44pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
      2.45pm Ms Sacilotto to Mr Henderson.
      2.49pm Ms Carney to Mr Henderson.
      2.53pm Mr Hampton to Ms Scrymgour.
      2.55PM Mrs Miller to Dr Burns.
      2.57pm Mr Warren to Ms Lawrie.
      2.59pm Mr Wood to Mr Knight.

      The Leader of Government Business (Ms Lawrie) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.

13. LEAVE OF ABSENCE - MEMBER FOR FANNIE BAY:
      The Leader of Government Business (Ms Lawrie) moved - That leave of absence be granted to the Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin) for this day due to ill health.
      Question - put and passed.
14. LAND TITLE AND RELATED LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (Serial 131):
      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.
      Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
      On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Burns) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

15. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AMENDMENT (MUTUAL RECOGNITION) BILL 2007 (Serial 125):
      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.
      Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
      On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Burns) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

16. ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR INITIATIVES - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
      The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) made a statement relating to behaviour in public places and a package of Anti-social Behaviour Initiatives to counter these difficulties.
      Mr Henderson moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
      Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Greatorex (Mr Conlan) the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
      Debate continued.
      Question - put and passed.
17. ADJOURNMENT:
      The Minister for Business and Economic Development (Mr Vatskalis) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 7.45pm until tomorrow at 10am.
      _________________

      PAPERS:
      The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Tuesday 19 February 2008 -

      Annual Reports
      Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board, 2006/2007 (Paper 1241)
      Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park Board, 2006/2007 (Paper 1242)
_________________
      ATTENDANCE:
      All Members attended the sitting except Ms Martin, on leave.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016