Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2010-02-18

    1. MEETING:
        The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable J. L. Aagaard, took the Chair.

    2. PRAYERS.

    3. STATEMENT BY SPEAKER – TELEPHONES IN CHAMBER:
        The Speaker advised Members that one of the causes of the interference to the recording system yesterday was the use by Members of mobile and IPhones. The Speaker reminded Members of the long standing request for all Members to switch off these devices.

    4. PAIRS:
        The Speaker (Mrs Aagaard) laid on the Table a document relating to pairs for today as follows:

        18 February 2010: Ms Scrymgour
                    Ms Carney (Paper 698)

        18 February 2010: Mrs Aagaard
                    Mr Chandler
                    10.45am to luncheon break today (Paper 699)

    5. PETITIONS:
        Responses to Petitions: The Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 100A tabled a response to Petition No. 25 relating to ANZAC Hill High School campus retaining a separate campus within the new Centralian Middle School (Paper 696).

    6. CONSUMER CREDIT (NATIONAL UNIFORM LEGISLATION) IMPLEMENTATION BILL 2010 (Serial 90):
        The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Ms Lawrie), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for the implementation of national consumer credit legislation.
        Bill read a first time.
        Ms Lawrie moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: Ms Lawrie laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Explanatory Statement, Consumer Credit (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Bill 2010 (Paper 700).

        On the motion of the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) debate was adjourned.
    7. LEAVE OF ABSENCE – MS SCRYMGOUR:
        The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) moved – That leave of absence be granted to the Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) for this day, Thursday 17 February 2010.
        Question – put and passed.
    8. ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY AMENDMENT BILL 2009 (Serial 80):
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – 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 the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage (Mr Hampton) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
    9. SALE OF LAND (RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF PARTIES) BILL 2009 (Serial 82):
        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.
        Debate suspended.
        __________________

        Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.59am and 2pm.
        __________________

        Distinguished visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the following distinguished visitors in the Speaker’s Gallery –
    Honourable Roger Steele, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; and
    Mr Larry Johns, Traditional Owner Timber Creek area.
      10. QUESTIONS:
          2.01pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
          2.04pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
          2.07pm Mr Mills to Ms Lawrie and restated and referred to Chief Minister.
          2.14pm Ms Walker to Ms Lawrie.
          2.17pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
          2.21pm Mr Wood to Mr McCarthy.
          2.23pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
          2.27pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
          2.30pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
          2.36pm Ms Anderson to Ms McCarthy.
          2.38pm Ms Walker to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.41pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
          2.45pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
          2.47pm Mr Wood to Mr McCarthy.
          2.50pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
          2.53pm Ms Walker to Ms Lawrie.
          2.56pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
          ___________________

          Suspension of Standing Orders: And the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving a motion to censure the Chief Minister and all former Ministers who have had Ministerial carriage of Child Protection Portfolios.

          The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) informed the Assembly the government accepted the censure motion, pursuant to Standing Order 95.
          ___________________

          The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.

      11. CENSURE OF CHIEF MINISTER AND MINISTERS FOR CHILD PROTECTION – MOTION NEGATIVED:
          The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills) thereupon moved –That this Assembly censure the Chief Minister and all Ministers and former Ministers for Child Protection since 2001 which includes the Member for Nightcliff, the Member for Karama, the Member for Arafura, the Member for Arnhem and the Member for Casuarina:

          FOR
              1. Deliberately, deceitfully and wilfully lying to Territorians about the state of the Child Protection System in the Northern Territory.

              2. Failing to take direct action to protect Territory children.

              3. Continuing to cover up the state of child protection in the Northern Territory by failing to make public reports which demonstrated the true state of child protection in the Territory.

          Debate ensued.
          Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
          The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. J. L Aagaard, in the Chair) -

          AYES, 11 NOES, 11

          Ms Anderson Mrs Aagaard
          Mr Bohlin Dr Burns
          Mr Chandler Mr Gunner
          Mr Conlan Mr Hampton
          Mr Elferink Mr Henderson
          Mr Giles Mr Knight
          Mr Mills Ms Lawrie
          Ms Purick Ms McCarthy
          Mr Styles Mr McCarthy
          Mr Tollner Mr Vatskalis
          Mr Westra van Holthe Ms Walker
              Tellers: Mr Gunner, Government Whip
                      Ms Purick, Opposition Whip
          Determination of tied division: The Speaker advised Members that – There being an equality of votes the result of the division is resolved in the negative, pursuant to section 27(1) of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978.

          Motion negatived accordingly.
      12. SALE OF LAND (RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF PARTIES) BILL 2009 (Serial 82):
          The Order of the Day having been read for the 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.
          Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
          On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Ms Lawrie) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law, after debate.
      13. SUPREME COURT AMENDMENT (MEDIATION) BILL 2009 (Serial 63):
          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 the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Ms Lawrie) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
      14. TERRITORY 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN – STATEMENT NOTED:
          The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate, on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement –
          Debate resumed.
          Quorum: The Member for Drysdale (Mr Bohlin) drew the Speaker’s attention to the state of the Assembly.
          The Bells having been rung and a quorum having been obtained –
          The Assembly resumed.

          Debate continued.
          Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Daly (Mr Knight) the Member for Fannie Bay (Mr Gunner) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

          Debate continued.
          Question – put and passed.
      15. PRIMARY INDUSTRY PRODUCTION - STATEMENT NOTED:
          The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement –
          Debate resumed.
          Question – put and passed.
      16. ADJOURNMENT:
          The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
          Debate ensued.
          Papers tabled: The Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) laid on the Table the following Papers –
      Letter, Kevin Phang, Assistant Director Legislative Policy, to A and CBE Maroulis, dated 2 November 2009 re objection to principal place of residence rebate decision (Paper 705);
      Letter, John Elferink Member for Port Darwin to Hon Delia Lawrie, Treasurer re Administrative decision affecting Mr Tony Maroulis, dated 16 November 2009 re objection to principal place of residence rebate decision (Paper 706); and
      Letter, Hon Delia Lawrie, Treasurer to John Elferink, Member for Port Darwin re Mr Tony Maroulis, dated 16 November 2009 re objection to principal place of residence rebate decision (Paper 707).

          Debate continued.
          And the Assembly adjourned at 8.35pm until Tuesday 23 February 2010 at 10am.
          ________________

          PAPERS:
          There following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 18 February 2010 -

          Annual Reports
          AustralAsia Railway, Corporation 2008/2009 (Paper 701)
          Heritage Advisory Council, 2008/2009 (Paper 703)
          NT Build, 2008/2009 (Paper 702)

          Report
          Warray Plants and Animals – Aboriginal flora and fauna knowledge from the upper Adelaide and upper Finniss Rivers, northern Australia Authors - Doris Lidawi White, Elsie Ajibak O’Brien, Dolly Mabul Fejo, Roger Wurdirdi Yates, Ada Ajibak Goodman, Mark Harvey and Glenn Wightman (Paper 704)
      _________________

          ATTENDANCE:
          All Members attended the sittings except Ms Scrymgour and Ms Carney, on leave.
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016