Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2013-05-14

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

of the

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

No. 22

Tuesday 14 May 2013

1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. MESSAGES FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR:

The Speaker advised Members of receipt of the following Messages from Her Honour the Administrator:
      Message No 6 — Assent to Proposed Laws

      I, SALLY THOMAS AM, the Administrator for the Northern Territory of Australia, advise the Legislative Assembly of, pursuant to section 7 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the Commonwealth, the assent to the following proposed law(s):

      3 May 2013
      Places of Public Entertainment Act Repeal Act 2013 (Act No 8 of 2013)
      Serious Sex Offenders Act 2013 (Act No 9 of 2013)
      Supreme Court Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 10 of 2013)

      Dated 10 May 2013

      SALLY THOMAS AM
      Administrator
      (Paper 288)
      Message No 7 — Recommending Appropriation (2013/2014) Bill 2013

      I, SALLY THOMAS AM, the Administrator for the Northern Territory of Australia, under section 11 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the Commonwealth, recommend to the Legislative Assembly a Bill for an Act to authorise amounts to be paid from the Central Holding Authority for the financial year ending 30 June 2014.

      Dated 9 May 2013

      SALLY THOMAS AM
      Administrator
      (Paper 289)

4. REORDER OF BUSINESS — INTERVENING BUSINESS POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER THE GIVING OF NOTICES — MOTION AGREED TO:
      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business), by leave, moved — That intervening business be postponed until after the giving of Notices.

      Question — put and passed.
5. ROUTINE OF BUSINESS, ORDER OF BUSINESS — TREASURER’S BUDGET SPEECH 2013—14 — MOTION AGREED TO:
      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business), by leave moved — That the Routine of Business of the Assembly, Government Business, Notices and Orders of the Day, be rearranged or suspended if a question or debate is before the chair so as to permit the Treasurer to deliver the Budget 2013—14 at 11am this day.

      Question — put and passed.
6. LEAVE OF ABSENCE — MEMBER FOR KATHERINE — MOTION AGREED TO:
      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr Westra van Holthe (Member for Katherine) for this sitting day, Wednesday 15 May and Thursday 16 May owing to Ministerial business.

      Question — put and passed.
7. ROUTINE OF BUSINESS, ORDER OF BUSINESS — OPPOSITON LEADER’S RESPONSE TO BUDGET 2013—14 — MOTION AGREED TO:
      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business), by leave moved — That the Routine of Business of the Assembly, Government Business, Notices and Orders of the Day, be rearranged or suspended if a question or debate is before the chair so as to permit a response to Budget 2013—14 by the Leader of the Opposition at 11am on Wednesday 15 May 2013.

      Question — put and passed.
8. NOTICES:
      The following notices were given —

      1. Mr Tollner: To present: Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill (Serial 28).

      2. Mr Giles: To present: Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill (Serial 27).

      3. Mr Elferink: To present: Penalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2013 (Serial 32).

      4. Mrs Lambley: To present: Public and Environmental Health Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 31).

      5. Mrs Lambley: To move — That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Public and Environmental Health
      Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 31) passing through all stages on 16 May 2013.

      6. Mrs Lambley: To present: Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Bill 2013 (Serial 33)
9. QUESTIONS:
      10.06 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
          Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister (Supplementary Question — ruled out of order)
      10.10 Mr Higgins to Chief Minister
      10.13 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      10.18 Ms Lee to Treasurer
      10.22 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      10.25 Ms Lee to Treasurer
      10.29 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      10.33 Mr Wood to Minister for Education
      10.36 Mr Kurrupuwu to Treasurer
      10.40 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      10.42 Mr Higgins to Treasurer
      10.46 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      10.47 Mr Wood to Minister for Health
      10.49 Ms Finocchiaro to Treasurer
      10.53 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      10.54 Mr Higgins to Chief Minister
      10.57 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      11.00 Mr Wood to Minister for Lands, Planning & the Environment
      11.04 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
      11.05 Ms Lee to Chief Minister

      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
10. FILMING IN THE CHAMBER — STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
      The Speaker advised Members that she had given permission for the Northern Territory News and The Australian to take photographs and Sky News, ABC and Channel 9 approval to film with sound the Budget presentation.
11. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR:
      The Speaker drew Members’ attention to the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the Honourable Grant Tambling, former Member for Fannie Bay, former Member for NT in House of Representatives, former Senator for the NT and Administrator of Norfolk Island from 2003 to 2007.

      On behalf of all Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome.
12. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS:
      The Speaker drew Members’ attention to the presence in the Public Gallery of Mrs Fay Miller, former Member for Katherine, Ms Jodeen Carney, former Member for Araluen, and Police Commissioner John McRoberts.

      On behalf of all Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome.
13. APPROPRIATION (2013—2014) BILL 2013 (SERIAL 26):
      Mr Tollner (Treasurer) presented a Bill for an act to authorise amounts to be paid from the Central Holding Authority for the financial year ending 30 June 2014, the subject of Her Honour the Administrator’s Message No 7, notified earlier this day.

      Bill read a first time.

      Mr Tollner moved — That the Bill be now read a second time.
Papers Tabled: Mr Tollner laid on the Table the following Budget Papers:

      Budget Paper No 1 — Budget Speech 2013—14 (Paper 290)
      Budget Paper No 2 — Budget Strategy and Outlook (Paper 291)
      Budget Paper No 3 — Agency Budget Statements (Paper 292)
      Budget Paper No 4 — The Infrastructure Program (Paper 293)
      Budget Paper No 5 — Budget Overview (Paper 294)
      Budget Paper No 6 — Northern Territory Economy (Paper 295)
      Budget Paper No 7 — Regional Highlights (Paper 296)

Debate suspended.
_____________________________

      Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 11.58am and 2.30pm.
_______________________________


14. NOTICES:
      The following notices in respect of General Business Day were given —
      1. Ms Fyles: To move - That this Assembly condemns the Government for:
              Slashing Child Protection resources in the Northern Territory Budget by $9 million;
              Child Protection notifications increasing from 8000 to 10,000 next year, but only 4000 will be investigated;
              Stripping resources from non—government organisations providing vital child protection services;
              Putting child protection into Education, changing its name and then taking it out again, and changing letterhead three times;
              Closing down independent scrutiny of Child Protection; and
              Destroying morale in Child Protection and having 44 positions vacant in Alice Springs.

      2. Ms Walker: To move - That this Assembly condemns the Government for:
              Promising homelands residents they will receive $5200 from the Government while implementing a policy that means most will get nothing; and
              Failure to support access to education and economic development opportunities for Homelands residents.
15. PETITIONS — RESPONSES:
      Pursuant to Standing Order 100A the Clerk informed Members that responses to Petition Numbers 4, 5 and 11 have been received and circulated to Members and that the text of the responses will be included in the Hansard record and placed on the Legislative Assembly website (Paper 297).
16. APPROPRIATION (2013—2014) BILL 2013 (SERIAL 26):
      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.

      Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Chandler, Mr Styles was granted an extension of time.

      Debate continued.

      On the motion of Mr Elferink, debate was adjourned.
17. ELECTRONIC CONVEYANCING (NATIONAL UNIFORM LEGISLATION) BILL 2013 (SERIAL 21):
      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 Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
18. PENALTY UNITS AMENDMENT BILL 2013 (SERIAL 24):
      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 Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
19. AUDITOR—GENERAL’S MARCH 2013 REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY— MOTION TO NOTE REPORT — MOTION AGREED TO:
      Resumption of debate on the motion — That the Assembly take note of the report.

      Debate ensued.

      Question — put and passed.
20. INTERSTATE TRAVEL REPORTS — MEMBER FOR BARKLY AND MEMBER FOR STUART — TABLED PAPERS:
      The Speaker laid upon the Table reports from the Member for Barkly (Paper 299) and the Member for Stuart (Paper 300) in respect of interstate travel pursuant to Clause 4.12 of Remuneration Tribunal Determination No 1 of 2012.
21. SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE — ELECTRONIC TABLING OF DOCUMENTS — MOTION TO ADOPT REPORT — MOTION AGREED TO:
      Ms Finocchiaro, on behalf of Mrs Price (Chair, Subordinate Legislation and Publications Committee), laid upon the Table a Report entitled Electronic Tabling of Documents (Paper 298).

      Ms Finocchiaro moved —That the report be printed.

      Question — put and passed.

      Ms Finocchiaro made a statement in relation to the report.

      Ms Finocchiaro moved — That the report be adopted.

      Debate ensued.

      Question — put and passed.
22. ADJOURNMENT:
      Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That the Assembly do now adjourn.

      Debate ensued.

      And the Assembly adjourned at 6.56pm until Wednesday 15 May at 10am.
____________________
PAPERS:
      No papers were deemed to have been presented on 14 May 2013.
____________________

      ATTENDANCE:

      All Members attended the sittings except Mr Westra van Holthe, on leave.



      Ian McNeill
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016