Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2013-10-16

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - Wednesday 16 October 2013

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 senior students from Kormilda College.
      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

4. QUESTIONS
      10.01 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
      10.04 Mr Higgins to Chief Minister
      10.09 Ms Lawrie to Treasurer
      10.13 Ms Finocchiaro to Attorney-General
      10.16 Ms Fyles to Minister for Education
      10.21 Mr Kurrupuwu to Attorney-General
      10.24 Mr Wood to Minister for Health
      10.28 Ms Manison to Minister for Education
      10.32 Ms Lee to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation
      10.36 Mr Gunner to Minister for Education
      10.40 Mr Kurrupuwu to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation
      10.43 Mr Vowles to Minister for Education
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      Withdrawal from Chamber: The Speaker ordered Mr Gunner (Member for Fannie Bay) to withdraw from the Assembly at 10.48am for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
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      10.48 Ms Lee to Minister for Correctional Services
      10.51 Mr Wood to Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries
      10.56 Mr McCarthy to the Minister for Transport
      10.59 Ms Anderson to Minister for Housing
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      Withdrawal from Chamber: The Speaker ordered the Member for Karama to withdraw from the Assembly at 11.01am for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
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      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
5. Alcohol Protection Orders Bill 2013 (Serial 58)
      Mr Giles (Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for Alcohol Protection Orders.

      Bill read a first time.

      Mr Giles moved –That the Bill be now read a second time.

      Debate ensued.

      Paper Tabled: Mr Giles laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 551).

      On the motion of Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) debate was adjourned.
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      Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Year 7 students from Taminmin College.

      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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6. Petroleum Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 56)
      Mr Westra van Holthe (Minister for Mines and Energy), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Petroleum Act.

      Bill read a first time.

      Mr Westra van Holthe moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.

      Debate ensued.

      Paper Tabled: Mr Westra van Holthe laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 552).

      On the motion of Mr Vatskalis (Member for Casuarina) debate was adjourned.
7. Care and Protection of Children Amendment (Legal Representation and Other Matters) Bill 2013 (Serial 51)
      Mr Elferink (Minister for Children and Families), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Care and Protection of Children Act.

      Bill read a first time.

      Mr Elferink moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.

      Debate ensued.

      Paper Tabled: Mr Elferink laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 553).

      On the motion of Mr McCarthy (Member for Barkly) debate was adjourned.
8. Children's Commissioner Bill 2013 (Serial 52)
      Mr Elferink (Minister for Children and Families), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for a Children's Commissioner, and for related purposes.

      Bill read a first time.

      Mr Elferink moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.

      Debate ensued.

      Paper Tabled: Mr Elferink laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 554).

      On the motion of Ms Fyles (Member for Nightcliff) debate was adjourned.
9. Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 55)
      Mr Elferink (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act.

      Bill read a first time.

      Mr Elferink moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.

      Debate ensued.
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      Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Year 7 students from Taminmin College.
      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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      Debate resumed.

      Paper Tabled: Mr Elferink laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 555).

      On the motion of Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) debate was adjourned.
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      Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 11.54am and 2.00pm.

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10. NOTICES
      The following notices were given:

      1. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) to present a bill entitled Wills Amendment (International Wills) Bill 2013 (Serial 50).

      2. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) to present a bill entitled Parole of Prisoners Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 53).

      3. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) to present a bill entitled Advance Personal Planning (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013 (Serial 54).

      4. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) to present a bill entitled Criminal Code Amendment (Hit and Run) Bill 2013 (Serial 57).
11. PETITIONS
      Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy), presented Petition No. 23 from 994 petitioners, conforming with Standing Orders praying that there is certainty with regard to the supply of gas to Gove Alumina Refinery (Paper 556).

      Petition read.
12. Criminal Code Amendment (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2013 (Serial 37) – BILL AGREED TO
      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 Mr Elferink (Attorney-General), the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.
13. Auditor-General’s February 2013 Report to the Legislative Assembly - Motion to Note AGREED TO
      Resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Report.

      Debate resumed.

      Quorum: Mr Vatskalis (Member for Casuarina) drew the attention of the Speaker to the state of the Assembly. Bells having been rung, a Quorum was obtained.

      Debate resumed.

      Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Elferink (Member for Port Darwin), Mr Tollner (Treasurer) was granted an extension of time.

      Debate resumed.

      Question - put and passed.
14. Auditor-General’s August 2013 Report to the Legislative Assembly - Motion to Note AGREED TO
      Resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Report.

      Debate resumed.

      Question - put and passed.
15. Ministerial Statement - Northern Territory Treasury - Motion to Note AGREED TO
      Resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.

      Debate resumed.
      Question - put and passed.
16. 2012-13 NT POLICE, FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT - TABLED PAPER
      Mr Giles (Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services) made a Statement and laid on the Table - Annual Report 2012/2013, NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Paper 559).
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      General Business: The time being 5.30pm, General Business commenced.

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17. Violence on Mitchell Street – MOTION NOT AGREED TO
      Mr Wood (Member for Nelson), pursuant to notice, moved – 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.

      Debate ensued.

      Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Gunner (Member for Fannie Bay), Mr Wood was granted an extension of time.

      Debate continued.

      Paper Tabled: Mr Giles (Chief Minister) laid upon the Table - Google Photograph, Darwin CDB Camera Locations, Aerial view of Darwin City (Paper 560).

      Debate continued.

      Question put -

      The Assembly divided:

      Ayes 1 Noes 23
      Mr Wood Ms Anderson

                      Mr Chandler
                      Mr Conlan
                      Mr Elferink
                      Ms Finocchiaro
                      Ms Fyles
                      Mr Giles
                      Mr Gunner
                      Mr Higgins
                      Mr Kurrupuwu
                      Mrs Lambley
                      Ms Lawrie
                      Ms Lee
                      Mr McCarthy
                      Ms Manison
                      Mr Mills
                      Mrs Price
                      Mr Styles
                      Mr Tollner
                      Mr Vatskalis
                      Mr Vowles
                      Ms Walker
                      Mr Westra van Holthe

      Motion negatived.
18. Proposed Planning Act Amendments– MOTION NOT AGREED TO
      Mr Wood (Member for Nelson), pursuant to notice, moved – That the NT government consider changes to the NT Planning Act or NT Planning Scheme to require that, where residential land including rural residential land that is affected by seepage, flooding or tidal surge, a line — even if approximate — should be shown on the registered title map for that land.

      Debate ensued.

      Question - put and negatived.

      Mr Wood, pursuant to Standing Order 157, requested the Speaker record his dissent.
19. Chaos in the Territory Government
      Ms Lawrie (Leader of the Opposition), pursuant to notice, moved – That this Assembly condemns the CLP for the deepening and ongoing chaos in the Territory Government – hurting families, and businesses and our lifestyle.
      1. Inflicting PowerWater price hikes spiking the cost of living;

      2. Ongoing turmoil in the NT Public Service with 5 Ministerial reshuffles and 2 Chiefs in 12 months;

      3. Broken election promises across the Territory – from the city to the bush, including rising violent crime;

      4. Cutting resources to our schools with less teachers and support staff;

      5. Disputes with Public Servants – over pay and conditions and pay cuts; and

      6. Dodgy deals and jobs for mates.

      Debate ensued.

      Debate suspended – end of General Business.
20. PAPERS
      The Speaker laid upon the Table the following Travel Report:

      Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Nightcliff, Ms Natasha Fyles, to meet with stakeholders, community groups and visit key parks in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Barkly, Cape Crawford and Mataranka during July, pursuant to paragraph 4:12, not dated (Paper 561).

21. ADJOURNMENT
      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That the Assembly do now adjourn.

      Debate ensued.

      Paper Tabled: By leave, Ms Purick (Member for Goyder) laid upon the Table - Booklet, Humpty Doo Rice Trail (Paper 562).

      Debate continued.

      Paper Tabled: By leave, Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) laid upon the Table - News Article, Arafura Times, 16-22 October 2013, ‘Young Guns kicking goals in Gove’ (Paper 563).

      Debate resumed.

      And the Assembly adjourned at 10.03pm until Thursday 17 October 2013 at 10am.
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      PAPERS
      The following papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 16 October 2013:

      Annual Report 2012/2013:
      Department of Correctional Services 2012/2013 (Paper 557).

      Auditor-General Financial Statements:
      Independent Auditor’s Report on the NT Auditor-General’s Office Financial Statements year ended 30 June 2013 (Paper 558).
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      ATTENDANCE
      All Members attended the sittings.





      Michael Tatham
Clerk of the Legislative
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016