Minutes of Proceedings - 2013-08-21
1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. VISITORS
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business), pursuant to notice, moved that –
7. NOTICES
The following petition was presented:
11. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT — GAS TO GOVE UPDATE – MOTION TO NOTE
12. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT — ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT – MOTION TO NOTE
16. ADJOURNMENT
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 6 students from Wagaman Primary School accompanied by their teacher, Jenni Webber and Year 5 students from St Paul’s School accompanied by their teacher, Alain van Gurp.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of the Fibrecraft Guild from Humpty Doo and members of the public who had walked from Townsville to Darwin raising money for Legacy.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
- 10.03 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
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Distinguished Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Maggie Hickey, a former member and Leader of the Opposition.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitor.
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10.05 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
10.09 Ms Finocchiaro to Chief Minister
10.12 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
10.15 Mr Higgins to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation
10.21 Mr Vatskalis to Minister for Health
10.24 Mr Wood to Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment
10.27 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
10.32 Ms Lee to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation
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Withdrawal from Chamber: The Speaker (Ms Purick in the Chair) ordered Mr Gunner (Member for Fannie Bay) to withdraw from the Assembly for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
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10.36 Mr Kurrupuwu to Chief Minister
10.39 Ms Manison to Chief Minister
10.44 Mr Higgins to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation
10.48 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
10.52 Mr Wood to Minister Land Resource Management
10.56 Ms Lee to Minister for Health
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
- Ms Anderson (Minister for Local Government), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Local Government Act, and for related purposes.
Bill read a first time.
Ms Anderson moved — That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper Tabled: Ms Anderson laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 453).
On the motion of Ms Walker debate was adjourned.
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business), pursuant to notice, moved that –
1. A Sessional Committee to be known as the Committee on the Northern Territory’s Energy Future be appointed.
2. The Committee’s membership to comprise three Government Members, two Opposition Members and one Independent Member.
3. The Committee shall elect a Government Member as Chair.
4. The Committee may elect a Deputy Chair of the Committee, who may act as the Chair when the Chair is absent from a meeting or there is no Chair of the Committee.
5 A quorum of the Committee shall be three members of the Committee.
6. The Committee shall inquire into, report from time to time and make recommendations regarding:
- (a) the Territory’s current energy capability;
(b) the Territory’s probable and proven energy capability;
(c) the prospect for additional energy resources;
(d) the future energy needs of the Territory and the continuity of supply;
(e) the most cost effective means of meeting the Territory’s energy needs;
(f) regulatory impacts on the cost of energy insofar as these can be reasonably ascertained;
(g) alternative sources of energy supply available to the Territory, including oil, gas, coal, uranium, and the renewable energy sources such as hot rock, solar, biofuels, wind and tidal energy; and
(h) emerging technologies and their applicability to the Territory.
8. The Committee may appoint subcommittees comprising two or more of its members and refer to any such subcommittee any matter which the committee may examine, and the quorum of a subcommittee shall be two.
- 9. The provisions of this resolution, insofar as they are inconsistent with the Standing Orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders.
I further move that the members of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Gary Higgins MLA, Ms Larisa Lee MLA and Mrs Bess Price MLA be appointed as government members of the Committee on the Northern Territory’s Energy Future.
Debate ensued.
Debate suspended.
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Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 11.54am and 2.00pm.
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7. NOTICES
- The following Notices were given:
1. Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) to present a bill entitled Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) (National Uniform Legislation) Bill 2013 (Serial 36).
2. Mr Westra van Holthe (Minister for Land Resource Management) to present a bill entitled Pastoral Land Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 40).
The following petition was presented:
Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy), presented Petition No. 20 from 440 petitioners, conforming with Standing Orders praying that the Dhimurru Aboriginal Land Management Corporation Senior NT Parks and Wildlife Ranger position be continued. (Paper 456)
- Resumption of debate on the question – That a Sessional Committee to be known as the Committee on the Northern Territory’s Energy Future be appointed.
Debate resumed.
By leave, Mr Elferink moved – That all words after paragraph 9 be omitted, and that the following words be inserted in their stead:
- I further move that Members of the Legislative Assembly Mr Gary Higgins, MLA, Ms Larisa Lee, MLA and Mrs Bess Price, MLA be appointed as Government members; that Mr Gerry McCarthy, MLA, Mr Kon Vatskalis, MLA be appointed as Opposition members; and that Mr Gerry Wood, MLA be appointed as an Independent member of the Committee on the Northern Territory’s Energy Future.
Question that the amendment be agreed to – put and passed.
Question that the motion as amended be agreed to – put and passed.
- Resumption of debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time —
Debate resumed.
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Visitors: The Speaker (Ms Purick) advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of participants at the Independent Associated Seed Graders Conference.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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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
11. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT — GAS TO GOVE UPDATE – MOTION TO NOTE
- Mr Giles (Chief Minister) made a statement updating the Assembly on the Gas to Gove Project.
Mr Giles moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Ms Fyles, Ms Walker was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Styles, Mr Tollner was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Naming of Member for Karama: The Deputy Speaker (Mr Higgins in the Chair) named the Member for Karama pursuant to Standing Order 239 and invited the Leader of Government Business to move suspension of the Member.
Motion not proceeded with.
Debate continued.
Debate adjourned.
12. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT — ALCOHOL MANDATORY TREATMENT – MOTION TO NOTE
- Mrs Lambley (Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation) made a statement outlining the progress that has been made since the passing of the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Act.
Mrs Lambley moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
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Suspension of Standing Orders: Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Nelson continuing his comments at a later hour.
Question – put and passed.
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Debate adjourned.
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Suspension of Standing Orders: Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent moving forthwith a motion pursuant to Standing Order 240 to suspend the Member for Karama from the service of the Assembly.
Question – put and passed.
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- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That the Member for Karama be suspended from the service of the Assembly for a period of 24 hours from the time of her ejection from this chamber at 4.40pm, pursuant to Standing Order 240.
Question – put and passed.
- Mr Vatskalis (Member for Casuarina), pursuant to notice, moved – That the House supports the Police Beats currently operating successfully in large shopping centres in the NT and calls upon the Government to continue the funding of existing Police Beats and to expand Police Beats in other shopping centres in Darwin and urban centres throughout the Territory.
Debate ensued
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Chandler, Mr Styles was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Question – put and negatived.
- Mr Kurrupuwu (Member for Arafura), pursuant to notice, moved – That the Assembly condemn Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Federal Labor Government for:
misleading the people of the Tiwi Islands and breaking their promise not to introduce a carbon tax;
raising the cost of living for Tiwi people and all Territory families;
increasing costs for Tiwi Islanders and threatening business opportunities; and
putting jobs for Tiwi Islanders and all Territorians at risk.
Debate ensued
The time being 9pm, General Business was suspended pursuant to Standing Orders and debate was adjourned.
16. ADJOURNMENT
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Question — put and passed.
And the Assembly adjourned at 9.41pm until Thursday 22 August at 10am.
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PAPERS
The following papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 21 August 2013 —
Professional Standards Act 2003 (Vic):
Law Institute of Victoria Limited Scheme, Professional Standards Act 2003 (Vic) (Paper 454)
Professional Standards Act 2004 (Qld):
The Bar Association of Queensland, A scheme under the Professional Standards Act 2004 (Qld) (Paper 455)
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- ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings.
Michael Tatham
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016