Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2015-12-02

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 two Year 5/6 classes from St Paul's Catholic Primary School.

        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
    4. ELECTORAL LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2015 (Serial 149)
        Mr Giles (Chief Minister), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act and the Electoral Regulations.

        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 1590).

        On the motion of Mr Vowles (Member for Johnston) debate was adjourned.
    5. REORDER OF BUSINESS – MOTION AGREED TO
        Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) pursuant to Standing Order 59, moved – That Ministerial Statements be called on after Government Business, Orders of the Day 1 and that Government Business be resumed after Ministerial Statements.

        Question – put and passed.
    6. TRAFFIC ACT AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2015 (Serial 138) – 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.

        On the motion of Mr Chandler (Minister for Transport), by leave, the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.

    7. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – WOMEN'S POLICY
        Mrs Price (Minister for Women's Policy) made a statement regarding progress in developing and implementing measures to improve the lives of Territory women.

        Mrs Price moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.

        Debate ensued.
        ________________

        Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of a Year 5/6 class from St Paul's Catholic Primary School.

        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
        _________________

        Debate continued.

        Extension of Time: On the motion of Ms Fyles (Member for Nightcliff), Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) was granted an extension of time.

        Debate continued.
        ________________

        Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of the Northern Territory Junior Track and Field Team.

        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
        _________________

        Debate continued.
        ________________

        Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of senior students from Palmerston Senior College Special Education Centre.

        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
        _________________

        Debate continued.

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

        Debate continued.

        Debate suspended.
        _________________

        Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 12 noon and 2.00pm.
        _________________
    8. NOTICES
        The following notices were given:
        1. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Small Claims Bill 2015 (Serial 144).

        2. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Justice Legislation Amendment (Small Claims and Other Matters) Bill 2015 (Serial 145).

        3. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will move on the next sitting day - that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the bills titled Justice Legislation Amendment (Small Claims and Other Matters) Bill 2015 (Serial 145) and Small Claims Bill 2015 (Serial 144):
          1. together be debated, and in one motion be put in regard to the second and the third readings of the bills; and

        4. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Justice Legislation Amendment (Vulnerable Witnesses) Bill 2015 (Serial 146).

        5. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Personal Violence Restraining Orders Bill 2015 (Serial 147).

        6. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Bill 2015 (Serial 148).
    9. QUESTIONS
        14.03 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister (supplementary question)

        Paper Tabled: Mr Gunner (Member for Fannie Bay), by leave, laid upon the Table – Answer to Written Question No. 291, Ministerial Travel, What was the value of travel and other services organised or provided by Latitude Travel in 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015 (year to date) (Paper 1592).

        14.08 Mrs Finocchiaro to Chief Minister
        14.12 Ms Manison to Minister for Education
        14.16 Mr Wood to Minister for Essential Services
    14.19 Mr Conlan to Minister for Lands and Planning
        14.23 Ms Lawrie to Treasurer

        Paper Tabled: Ms Lawrie (Member for Karama), by leave, laid upon the Table – Economic Insights, Fastest economic growth in 18 months, dated 2 December 2015 (Paper 1593).

        14.28 Mrs Finocchiaro to Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
        14.33 Ms Manison to Minister for Education
        14.37 Mr Barrett to Minister for Business
        ________________

        Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Charles Darwin University Liaison Librarians doing professional development.

        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
        _________________

        14.41 Ms Walker to Minister for Education
        14.45 Mr Conlan to Minister for Business
        14.49 Mr McCarthy to Minister for Education
        14.53 Mrs Finocchiaro to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
        Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.

        Mr Westrra van Holthe answered a question relating to Power and Water East Arm Depot.
    10. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – WOMEN'S POLICY – STATEMENT NOTED
        Resumption of debate on the question -– That the Assembly take note of the Statement.

        Debate resumed.

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

        Debate continued.

        Question – put and passed.
    11. 'ICE' SELECT COMMITTEE - BREAKING THE ICE, INQUIRY INTO 'ICE' USE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
        Resumption of debate on the question – That Mr Barrett (Member for Blain) continues his remarks.

        Mr Barrett moved – That the Assembly take note of the report.

        Debate resumed.

        Debate suspended.
        _________________

        General Business: The time being 5.30pm, General Business commenced.
        _________________
    12. MEDICAL SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL 2015 (Serial 150)
        Ms Purick (Member for Goyder), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Medical Services Act.

        Bill read a first time.

        Ms Purick moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.

        Debate ensued.

        Paper Tabled: Ms Purick laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 1594).

        On the motion of Mr Elferink (Member for Port Darwin) debate was adjourned.
    13. STAMP DUTY RELIEF AND FIRST HOME OWNERS GRANTS – MOTION AGREED TO
        Mrs Lambley (Member for Araluen) pursuant to notice, moved – That the Government considers providing stamp duty relief or a grant to assist First Home Owners to buy existing homes.

        Debate ensued.

        Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Chandler (Member for Brennan), Mr Tollner (Member for Fong Lim) was granted an extension of time.

        Debate continued.

        Question – put and passed.
    14. FUNDING AND RESOURCING TERRITORY SCHOOLS
        Resumption of debate on the question - that this Legislative Assembly condemns the CLP Government for failing to properly fund and resource Territory schools by:

        - Slashing $125 million from the education budgets

        - Forcing global school budgets onto schools which is cost shifting resource burdens onto our schools

        The Legislative Assembly calls on the government to reinstate teachers, teacher assistants and properly resource our Territory schools.

        Debate ensued.

        Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Chandler (Member for Brennan), Mr Styles (Member for Sanderson) was granted an extension of time.

        Debate continued.

        Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Westra van Holthe (Member for Katherine), Mr Tollner (Member for Fong Lim) was granted an extension of time.

        Debate continued.
        _________________

        Withdrawal from Chamber: The Speaker ordered Mr Elferink (Member for Port Darwin) to withdraw from the Assembly for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 49.
        _________________

        Debate continued.

        The time being 9.00pm, debate was suspended at the completion of General Business.
    15. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – MOTION NOT AGREED TO
        Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) pursuant to Standing Order 252, moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent this house from debating General Business, Orders of the Day numbers 1 and 2.

        Debate ensued.

        Ms Fyles (Member for Nightcliff) moved – That the motion now be put.

        Question – put

        The Assembly divided:
          Ayes - 14 Noes - 6
          Mr Barrett Mr Conlan
          Mr Chandler Mrs Finocchiaro
          Mr Elferink Ms Lawrie
          Ms Fyles Mrs Price
          Mr Giles Mr Westra van Holthe
          Mr Gunner Mr Wood
          Mr Higgins
          Ms Lee
          Mr McCarthy
          Ms Manison
          Ms Moss
          Mr Styles
          Mr Tollner
          Ms Walker
        Motion agreed to.

        Question – That the motion be agreed to - put

        The Assembly divided:
          Ayes - 8 Noes - 12
          Ms Fyles Mr Barrett
          Mr Gunner Mr Chandler
          Ms Lawrie Mr Conlan
          Mr McCarthy Mr Elferink
          Ms Manison Mrs Finocchiaro
          Ms Moss Mr Giles
          Ms Walker Mr Higgins
          Mr Wood Ms Lee
          Mrs Price
          Mr Styles
          Mr Tollner
          Mr Westra van Holthe
        Motion not agreed to.
    16. ADJOURNMENT
        Mr Higgins (Minister for the Environment) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.

        The Assembly adjourned at 10.05pm until Thursday 3 December 2015 at 10.00am.
    ____________________

        PAPERS
        The following papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 2 December 2015 -

        Annual Reports 2014/2015:
        Northern Territory Grants Commission, 2014/2015 (Paper 1591)
    ______________________

        ATTENDANCE
        All Members attended the sittings.

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