Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2007-08-30

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

2. PRAYERS.
      Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public galleries of Wagaman Primary School students, Year 6/7 accompanied by Ms Margaret McPherson.
      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

3. PETITIONS:
      The Member for Goyder (Mr Warren) presented petition No. 63 from 1445 petitioners requesting funding be approved to replace the Fogg Dam Monsoon Forest Boardwalk to facilitate its reopening in 2007 (Paper 1081).
      Petition read.

      Paper tabled: The Member for Goyder (Mr Warren), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
Fogg Dam Monsoon Forest Boardwalk, Photographs (Paper 1082).

      The Member for Port Darwin (Ms Sacilotto), by leave, presented petition No. 64, not conforming with Standing Orders, from 772 petitioners notifying the Darwin City Council of the desperate need for promotion of Darwin City to encourage people into the city (Paper 1083).
      Petition read.
4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
      BassintheDust 2007: The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) reported on the BassintheDust 2007 music festival concert in Alice Springs.
      Mrs Miller responded.
      Mrs Braham responded.
      Ms Martin replied.

      Child Protection Week, National: The Minister for Child Protection (Ms Scrymgour) reported on the activities of National Child Protection Week and local activities and events to be conducted locally.
      Ms Carney responded.

      Indigenous Music Awards 2007: Minister for Arts and Museums (Ms Scrymgour) reported on the 2007 Indigenous Music Award winners Nabarlek Band and associated activities.

      Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public galleries of UNESCO visitors to Parliament House.
      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

      Mrs Miller responded.
      Ms Scrymgour replied.

      Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant Standing Orders.
5. LIQUOR LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (Serial 113):
      Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass Bill through all stages: The Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing (Dr Burns), pursuant to notice, moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 (Serial 113), passing through all stages at this sittings.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
6. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
      The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That Government Business, Notice No. 3 relating to the Disasters Amendment Bill 2007 (Serial 115) be called on forthwith.
      Question - put and passed.
7. DISASTERS AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (Serial 115):
      The Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Ms Martin), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Disasters Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Ms Martin moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      Debate ensued.
      Paper tabled: Ms Martin laid on the Table the following Paper -
Explanatory Statement, Disasters Amendment Bill 2007 (Paper 1084).
      On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) debate was adjourned.
8. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (Serial 101):
      Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass Bill through all stages: The Minister for Local Government (Mr McAdam), pursuant to notice, moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Local Government Amendment Bill 2007 (Serial 101), passing through all stages at this sittings.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
9. LAW REFORM (DUST DISEASES) AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (Serial 116):
      The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Mr Stirling), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the Limitation Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Stirling moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      Debate ensued.
      Paper tabled: Mr Stirling laid on the Table the following Paper -
Explanatory Statement, Law Reform (Dust Diseases) Amendment Bill 2007 (Paper 1085).
      On the motion of the Member for Katherine (Mrs Miller) debate was adjourned.
      _______________

      Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.56am and 2pm.
      _______________
10. QUESTIONS:
      2.03pm Mr Mills to Mr Stirling.
      2.08pm Mr Bonson to Henderson.
      2.11pm Mr Conlan to Mr McAdam.
      2.14pm Ms Sacilotto to Ms Martin.
      2.19pm Mr Mills to Ms Lawrie.
      2.21pm Mr Knight to Mr Natt.
      2.25pm Mrs Braham to Mr Henderson.
      2.29pm Mr Mills to Ms Lawrie.
      2.32pm Mr Hampton to Mr Henderson.
      Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public galleries of members of the Filipino Senior Citizens Association.
      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

      2.37pm Mr Wood to Mr Natt.
      2.41pm Mr Warren to Mr Stirling.
      2.46pm Mr Mills to Ms Lawrie.
      2.50pm Mr Kiely to Ms Martin.
      2.54pm Mr Mills to Ms Martin.
      2.57pm Mr Burke to Mr McAdam.

      The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
11. LIQUOR LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (Serial 113):
      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.
      The Assembly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bill.
      ________________________

      In Committee

      (Chairman and Deputy Speaker - Mr Knight)

      Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
      Debate ensued.
      Bill, as a whole, agreed to.
      Bill to be reported without amendment.
      _____________

      The Assembly resumed; the Speaker (Mrs Aagaard) took the Chair; the Chairman and Deputy Speaker (Mr Knight) reported that the Assembly had agreed to the Bill without amendment.
      The report was adopted.
      On the motion of the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing (Dr Burns) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

12. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2007 (Serial 101):
      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.
      Explanation of Speech: The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) made an explanation of his speech made, earlier this day, during debate on the motion to suspend Standing Orders to pass this Bill through all stages this sittings.
      Debate continued.
      Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Wanguri (Mr Henderson) the Member for Barkly (Mr McAdam) was granted an extension of time.
      Debate continued.
      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 Local Government (Mr McAdam) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
13. TOURISM GROWTH BACKED BY GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
      The Minister for Tourism (Mr Henderson) made a statement relating to the progress in Growing the Tourism Business Sector of the Territory.
      Mr Henderson moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
      On the motion of the Treasurer (Mr Stirling) debate was adjourned.
14. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - HOUSING AFFORDABILITY FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY:
      The Speaker advised the Assembly that the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) had proposed the following definite Matter of Public Importance for discussion this day:
          Housing affordability, especially for first home buyers and low income earners, is now a major problem in the Northern Territory - in particular, in Darwin, Palmerston, the Darwin rural area, and Alice Springs.

          There needs to be urgent changes, such as the release of land specifically for first home buyers.

      The proposed discussion having received the necessary support -
      Discussion ensued.
      Discussion concluded.
15. NEXT MEETING:
      The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 9 October 2007 at 10am or such other time and/or date as may be set by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
      Question - put and passed.

16. ADJOURNMENT:
      The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 9.58pm until Tuesday 9 October 2007 at 10am or such other time and/or date as may be set by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
      _________________

      PAPERS:
      The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 30 August 2007 -

      Plans of Management:
      Cobourg Marine Park, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts (Paper 1087)
      Tnorala Conservation Reserve (Gosse Bluff) March 1997, Draft Amendment May 2007, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (Paper 1086)
      Regulations 2007:
      No. 29, Corporations Law Amendment Rules 2007 (Paper 1088)
      No. 30, Legal Profession Admission Rules 2007 (Paper 1089)
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      ATTENDANCE:
      All Members attended the sitting except Ms McCarthy, on leave.

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