Minutes of Proceedings - 2013-08-20
1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. VISITORS
4. STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
5. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
6. CHANGE TO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND SHADOW MINISTRY — MOTION AGREED TO
7. REORDER OF ROUTINE OF BUSINESS — MOTION AGREED TO
10. NOTICES
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.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
4. STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
- The Speaker advised members of the Open Day for Parliament House, Government House and Supreme Court this Saturday, 24 August from 9am to 3pm.
5. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
- The Speaker advised Members of receipt of the following Message from Her Honour the Administrator (Paper 429):
Message No 10 – Assent to Proposed Laws
I, SALLY THOMAS AM, the Administrator for the Northern Territory of Australia, advise the Legislative Assembly, pursuant to section 7 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the Commonwealth, the assent to the following proposed laws:
28 June 2013
- Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 (Act No 17 of 2013)
Appropriation (2013-2014) Act 2013 (Act No 18 of 2013)
Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 19 of 2013)
Revenue Legislation Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 20 of 2013)
- Sentencing Amendment Act (Act No 21 of 2013)
Mining Management Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 22 of 2013)
Penalties Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2013 (Act No 23 of 2013
- SALLY THOMAS AM
Administrator
6. CHANGE TO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND SHADOW MINISTRY — MOTION AGREED TO
- Ms Lawrie (Leader of the Opposition), by leave, moved - That the following changes be made to membership of committees:
Public Accounts Committee – discharge Mr Gunner and appoint Ms Manison.
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee - discharge Mr Gunner and appoint Ms Manison.
The Shadow Minister for Statehood will be Ms Manison.
- Question — put and passed.
7. REORDER OF ROUTINE OF BUSINESS — MOTION AGREED TO
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business), moved - pursuant to Standing Order 89, that the routine of business be reordered so that Ministerial Statements be called on after Question Time and continued after Petitions.
Question — put and passed.
- 10.03 Ms Walker to Chief Minister
10.06 Mrs Price to Chief Minister
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Statement by the Speaker:The Speaker (Ms Purick in the Chair) made a statement reminding Honourable Members to refer to Standing Orders when making a Point of Order.
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10.10 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
10.13 Mr Higgins to Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
10.17 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
10.20 Ms Finocchiaro to Treasurer
10.24 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
10.29 Mr Wood to Minister for Mines and Energy
10.32 Mr Kurrupuwu to Minister for Local Government
10.35 Mr Vatskalis to Chief Minister
10.40 Ms Lee to Minister for Business
10.43 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
10.47 Mr Higgins to Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment
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Suspension Of Standing Orders
Suspension Of Standing Orders
Ms Lawrie (Leader of the Opposition) moved — That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent this house from censuring the Chief Minister for a year of failures and lies.
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) informed the Assembly that the Government would accept the censure motion, pursuant to Standing Order 95.
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- Ms Lawrie moved — That the Assembly censure the Chief Minister for a year of failures and lies including:
- jeopardising the future of Nhulunbuy and the region by reneging on his Government’s Gas to Gove deal;
hurting families and businesses with the cost of living skyrocketing while wage growth drops to the lowest in the nation;
violent alcohol related crime up 17% and alcohol related domestic violence up 24%;
slashing education funding and cutting 130 teachers from our schools;
axing the Palmerston Community Hospital and RDH Children’s Wing;
rejecting commonwealth funding for renal services;
keeping RDH bed blocked while the hijacked Medi-Hotel is all but empty due to failed mandatory rehab;
causing business confidence to crash as unemployment goes up every single month this year;
slashing infrastructure spending cost jobs and economic development;
increasing the cost of housing and failing to release new land for housing in the growth zones of Darwin and Palmerston;
renaming Shires Regional Councils and claiming it to be your greatest achievement yet;
dismantling child protection scrutiny while staff leave and caseloads increase;
axing environment advisory committees and appointing a mate to run the EPA;
trying to make it easier to sack more public servants and supporting Tony Abbott’s plan to make further cuts;
handing out jobs to mates;
handing out millions of dollars worth of water to their own CLP candidate; and
becoming the most secretive, deceptive and dishonest government in the history of the Northern Territory.
Debate ensued
Debate suspended
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Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 11.58am and 2.00pm.
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10. NOTICES
- The following Notices were given:
1. Mr Kurrupuwu (Member for Arafura) to move – That on the next General Business Day this 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.
2. Ms Lawrie (Leader of the Opposition) to move – That on the next General Business Day this Assembly condemn the CLP for a year of failures including:
- cost of living skyrocketing while wages growth drops to lowest in the nation;
cutting education and health services to Territorians;
Territory unemployment rising every single month this year;
violent alcohol related crime up by 17%, alcohol related domestic violence up 24%. Alcohol laws a miserable failure;
vital public servants being sacked including teachers and child protection workers;
renaming shires Regional Councils and claiming it is your greatest achievement;
supporting Tony Abbott’s plan to follow your lead and make further cuts in the Northern Territory; and
reneging on the Gas to Gove deal and hurting Territory businesses.
3. Ms Anderson (Minister for Local Government) to present a bill entitled – Local Government Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 35).
4. Mr Giles (Chief Minister) to move – That on the next Sitting Day this Assembly appoint a Sessional Committee on the Northern Territory’s Energy Future for the purposes of examining and reporting on issues relating to the Territory’s future demands and supply of energy.
5. Ms Fyles (Member for Nightcliff) to move – That on the next General Business Day this Assembly condemn the CLP for:
- gifting the CLP Candidate for Lingiari Tina MacFarlane water rights worth millions;
stripping indigenous Territorians of their water rights to hand them instead to their candidate;
threatening the supply of water to the Ngukurr Community;
saying that Cabinet and Minister’s had no involvement in the decision but then refusing to release correspondence between the CLP and the water controller;
basing their decision to change the science on a phone call;
ignoring science and modelling that exposes the risk of environmental and ecological damage to Elsey National Park and its water systems;
ignoring the rights of other water users of the Tindal Limestone Aquifer including recreational fishers, traditional owners and other pastoralists;
giving the Federal Coalition candidate water rights against the policy of the Federal Coalition; and
refusing to revoke the water allocation grant until a proper and transparent process can be put in place that involves detailed community consultation.
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) laid upon the Table a copy of the Administrative Arrangements Order published in the Northern Territory Gazette No S41 dated 9 August 2013 (Paper 430).
- The Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 100A, laid upon the Table Responses to Petition Numbers 12, 15, 17, 18 and 19 (Paper 431).
- Resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the question – That the Assembly censure the Chief Minister for a year of failures and lies suspended earlier this day.
Debate resumed.
- Question put –
The Assembly divided:
Ayes 5 Noes 14
Ms Fyles Ms Anderson
Ms Lawrie Mr Chandler
Mr McCarthy Mr Conlan
Mr Vatskalis Mr Elferink
Ms Walker Ms Finocchiaro
Mr Giles
Mr Higgins
Mr Kurrupuwu
Mrs Lambley
Ms Lee
Mr Mills
Mr Styles
Mr Tollner
Mr Westra van Holthe
Motion negatived.
- Mr Giles (Chief Minister) made a statement relating to the first twelve months of Government and outlined where the Government is heading in the next twelve months and beyond.
Mr Giles moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr McCarthy, Ms Lawrie was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mrs Lambley, Mr Chandler was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Gunner, Ms Walker was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Tollner, Mrs Lambley was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Willem Westra van Holthe, Ms Anderson was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Higgins, Mr Willem Westra van Holthe was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Higgins, Mr Wood was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Elferink, Ms Finocchiaro was granted an extension of Time.
Debate continued.
On the motion of Mr Elferink (Member for Port Darwin) debate was adjourned.
- The Speaker, (Ms Purick) laid upon the Table the following Travel Reports -
- 1. Travel Report by the Member for Casuarina (Mr Vatskalis) pursuant to the Remuneration Tribunal Determination Paragraph 4.12 – Intrastate Travel to Alice Springs, Yulara, Tennant Creek and Katherine, 2 to 14 July, to attend Caucus, Alice Springs show, Tennant Creek Show, a Beef Breeders Gala Dinner, and visit a Health Clinic and Emergency Department. (Paper 451)
2. Travel Report by the Member for Stuart (Mrs Price) pursuant to the Remuneration Tribunal Determination Paragraph 4.12 – Interstate Travel to Queensland, 14 to 20 July 2013, to attend the Conference of Liberal National Party Women of Queensland. (Paper 450)
The Speaker, (Ms Purick) laid upon the Table a letter sent to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on behalf of the Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. (Paper 452)
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Question — put and passed.
And the Assembly adjourned at 8.52pm until Wednesday 21 August at 10am.
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PAPERS
The following papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 20 August 2013 —
Annual Reports
Royal Darwin Hospital Board, 2011/12 (Paper 432)
National Health Practitioner Ombudsman & Privacy Commissioner, 2011/2012 (Paper 433)
Reports
Report on the Review of Northern Territory Police Resource Allocation, Efficiency and Operational Capabilities 2012 – Response to Recommendations (O’Sullivan Review Report), dated 29 July 2013 (Paper 434)
Regulations 2013
No. 70/2013, (Cth) Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Amendment (Midwife Insurance Exemption) Regulation 2013 (Paper 435)
Subordinate Legislation 2013
No. 15, Motor Vehicles Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 436)
No. 16, Motor Vehicles (Fees and Charges) Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 437)
No. 17, Traffic Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 438)
No. 20, Legal Profession Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 439)
No. 21, Penalty Units Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 440)
No. 22, Prisons (Correctional Services) Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 441)
No. 23, Animal Welfare Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 442)
No. 24, Motor Vehicles (Fees and Charges) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2013
(Paper 443)
No. 25, Marine (General) Regulations 2013 (Paper 444)
No. 26, Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 445)
No. 27, Fees and Charges (Attorney-General and Justice Portfolio) Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 446)
No. 28, Traffic Amendment Regulations (No.2) 2013 (Paper 447)
No. 29, Misuse of Drugs (Act Amendment) Regulations 2013 (Paper 448)
No. 30, Agents Licensing Amendment Regulations 2013 (Paper 449)
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- ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings.
Michael Tatham
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016