Minutes of Proceedings - 2013-10-10
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - Thursday 10 October 2013
1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. VISITORS
4. SPEAKER'S STATEMENT
1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. VISITORS
- The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Year 3/4 and 5/6 students from St Andrew's Lutheran Primary School.
- The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of Mrs Rhonda Higgins and friends, Barry Solento and Jean Compane.
- On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
4. SPEAKER'S STATEMENT
- The Speaker made a statement regarding Members referring to other Members by the name of their Electoral Division pursuant to Standing Order 65.
- 10.03 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
10.05 Mr Higgins to Chief Minister
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Leave of Absence: Mrs Lambley (Acting Leader of Government Business) moved - That leave of absence for today be granted to the Members for Katherine, Arafura and Arnhem on account of Government business.
Leave of absence granted.
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10.08 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
Paper Tabled: Ms Lawrie (Chief Minister) laid upon the Table - Power and Water Corporation, 2014 Network Price Determination Initial Regulatory Proposal, 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2019 (Paper 526).
10.13 Ms Finocchiaro to Minister for Local Government and Regions
10.16 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
10.20 Mr Higgins to Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing
10.22 Mr Wood to Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment
10.25 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
10.29 Ms Anderson to Minister for Health
10.33 Ms Lawrie to Treasurer
10.37 Mr Higgins to Minister for Health
10.40 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
10.43 Mr Higgins to Chief Minister
Mr Giles (Chief Minister) moved - That further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Debate ensued.
Mr Tollner (Treasurer) moved - That the question now be put.
Question put -
The Assembly divided:
- Ayes 10 Noes 8
Ms Anderson Mr Gunner
Mr Chandler Ms Lawrie
Mr Conlan Mr McCarthy
Ms Finocchiaro Ms Manison
Mr Giles Mr Vatskalis
Mr Higgins Mr Vowles
Mrs Lambley Ms Walker
Mrs Price Mr Wood
Mr Styles
Mr Tollner
Motion agreed to.
Madam Speaker put the question - That further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Question - put and passed.
Ms Lawrie (Leader of the Opposition) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent a further 15 minutes of Question Time.
Debate ensued.
Mr Tollner (Treasurer) moved - That the question now be put.
Question put -
The Assembly divided:
Ayes 10 Noes 8
Ms Anderson Mr Gunner
Mr Chandler Ms Lawrie
Mr Conlan Mr McCarthy
Ms Finocchiaro Ms Manison
Mr Giles Mr Vatskalis
Mr Higgins Mr Vowles
Mrs Lambley Ms Walker
Mrs Price Mr Wood
Mr Styles
Mr Tollner
Motion agreed to.
Madam Speaker put the question -That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent a further 15 minutes of Question Time.
Motion agreed to.
- 11.20 Ms Anderson to Chief Minister
11.23 Ms Fyles to Chief Minister
11.26 Mr Wood to Minister for Education
11.30 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
11.34 Ms Fyles to Minister for Parks and Wildlife
11.36 Ms Finocchiaro to Minister for Community Services
- Mrs Lambley (Acting Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
- Mr Conlan (Minister for Housing), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for a national law relating to the registration of community housing providers and to make other provision for community housing providers.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Conlan moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper Tabled: Mr Conlan laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 527).
On the motion of Ms Manison (Member for Wanguri) debate was adjourned.
- Mrs Price (Minister for Statehood), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Constitutional Convention (Election) Act.
Bill read a first time.
Mrs Price moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper Tabled: Mrs Price laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 528).
On the motion of Ms Manison (Member for Wanguri) debate was adjourned.
- Resumption of debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate resumed.
Debate suspended.
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Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 12 noon and 2.00pm.
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- The following notices were given:
1. Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) to move – That the Northern Territory Government in light of the serious violence in Mitchell Street introduce changes similar to the measures introduced in Newcastle which have been shown independently to have:
(1) reduced alcohol related non domestic assaults by 33% over the last 5 years, a 26% reduction in hospital ED admissions;
(2) 82% community support for the small reduction in late trading hours;
(3) a very important reduction in preloading; and
(4) a reduction in the average levels of binge drinking.
2. Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) to move – That the Northern Territory Government makes no decision over the future of any of the Aboriginal Town Communities within the Darwin region including Adelaide River until the residents of those communities have been given sufficient opportunities to make informed and independent decisions about what they want including decisions about ownership of the leases.
3. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) to present a bill entitled Criminal Code Amendment (Expert Psychiatric or Medical Evidence) Bill 2013 (Serial 49).
- Resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, 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 detail.
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In Committee
In Committee
- Mr Higgins (Chair of Committees) took the Chair.
Clauses 1 to 27 by leave, taken together.
Debate ensued.
Paper Tabled: Mr Tollner (Minister for Local Government and Regions) laid upon the Table - Funding of Regional Councils and Local Authorities, Departmental of Local Government and Regions, October 2013 (Paper 532).
Debate continued.
Clauses 1 to 27 agreed to.
Clause 28 read.
Mr Tollner moved the following amendment to clause 28, proposed section 53B(1) and (2) -
- omit, insert
(1) The Minister may, by Gazette notice, identify a regional council that must establish and maintain one or more local authorities.
(2) A council identified in a Gazette notice mentioned in subsection (1) must establish and maintain the local authority in accordance with any guidelines that the Minister may make.
Debate ensued.
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Visitors: The Chair of Committees advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Mr Damien Ryan, the Mayor of Alice Springs.
On behalf of all Members the Chair of Committees extended a warm welcome to the visitor.
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Debate continued.
Amendment agreed to.
Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) moved the following amendment to clause 28, proposed section 53C(1)(b) -
- omit, insert
(b) such other members of the community or communities within the local authority's area as are elected by the electors in the local authority's area.
Debate ensued.
Amendment not agreed to.
Mr Wood moved the following amendment to clause 28, proposed section 53C(1), note -
omit
appointment
insert
election
Amendment not agreed to.
Mr Wood moved the following amendment to clause 28, proposed section 53C(3) -
- omit, insert
(3) For subsection (1)(b):
(a) the number of persons to be elected is to be determined by the Regional Council in accordance with the Minister's guidelines under section 53B(2); and
(b) the election is to be conducted by the Regional Council.
Amendment not agreed to.
Clause 28 as amended agreed to.
Clauses 29 to 31, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 32 read.
Mr Tollner moved the following amendment to clause 32, proposed section 64(1)(a) and (aa) -
- omit, insert
(a) in the case of a local authority – a member appointed by the local authority as its Chair; or
(aa) in the case of a local board – a member appointed by the board as its Chair; or
Amendment agreed to.
Mr Tollner moved the following amendment to clause 32, proposed section 64(1)(c) and (d) -
- omit, insert
(c) in the case of a local authority, local board or council committee, if the Chair is not present (or no-one currently holds the position of the Chair) – a member chosen by the members present at the meeting to chair the meeting.
Debate ensued.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 32 as amended agreed to.
Clauses 33 to 38, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 39 read.
Mr Tollner moved the following amendment to Clause 39(2) -
- omit, insert
(2) Section 71(4)
omit, insert
(4) Differential allowances may be fixed for:
(a) the principal member; and
(b) the deputy principal member; and
(ba) the Chair of a local authority; and
(c) other members of the council or local authority.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 39 as amended agreed to.
Remainder of the Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
Debate ensued.
Remainder of the Bill agreed to.
Bill to be reported with amendments.
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The Assembly resumed; the Speaker (Ms Purick) took the Chair; Mr Higgins (Chair of Committees) reported that the Committee had agreed to the Bill with amendments.
Madam Speaker put the question - That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
On the motion of Mr Tollner, the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.
- Mr Conlan (Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing) made a statement reporting the activities and achievements of the Government in regard to Sport, Recreation and Racing.
Mr Conlan moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Ms Finocchiaro (Member for Drysdale), Mr Styles (Member for Sanderson) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
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Visitors: The Acting Deputy Speaker (Mr Wood in the Chair) advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Mr Steve Henessey, the Deputy Mayor of Daly Shire.
On behalf of all Members the Acting Deputy Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitor.
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Debate adjourned.
- Mrs Lambley (Acting Leader of Government Business) moved — That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
And the Assembly adjourned at 8.08pm until Tuesday 15 October 2013 at 10am.
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- PAPERS
The following papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 10 October 2013:
Annual Report 2012/2013:
Department of Chief Minister, 2012/2013 (Paper 529)
Department of Education, 2012/2013 (Paper 530)
Youth Justice Advisory Committee, 2012/2013 (Paper 531)
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- ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings, except Mr Elferink, Mr Westra van Holthe, Mr Kurrupuwu and Ms Lee, on leave.
Michael Tatham
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016