Minutes of Proceedings - 2016-04-19
1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
3. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
5. RED TAPE REDUCTION (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 2016 (Serial 157)
8. RED TAPE REDUCTION (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 2016 (Serial 157) – BILL AGREED TO
11. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – ON-SHORE UNCONVENTIONAL GAS FRACKING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
3. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
- The Speaker advised Members of receipt of the following Message from His Honour the Administrator (Paper 1728):
Message No. 32 – Assent to Proposed Laws
I, JOHN HARDY OAM, the Administrator of 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:
23 March 2016
Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (Act No. 5 of 2016)
6 April 2016
Building Amendment (Occupancy Certification) Act 2016 (Act No. 6 of 2016)
Inquiries Amendment Act 2016 (Act No. 7 of 2016)
Local Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8 of 2016)
Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9 of 2016)
JOHN HARDY OAM
Administrator
- Mr Barrett (former Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee) withdrew the Notice of Motion and by leave laid upon the Table – Correspondence from Hon Peter Chandler, Minister for Transport, regarding repeal of Regulation 10 of the Ports Management Regulations, dated 21 March 2016 (Paper 1729).
5. RED TAPE REDUCTION (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 2016 (Serial 157)
- Resumption of debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate resumed.
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- Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Student Representative Council members from Stuart Park Primary School accompanied by their teacher Ms Katie Streader.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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Debate continued.
Debate suspended.
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Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 12.00pm and 2.00pm.
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- The following notices were given:
1. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Guardianship of Adults Bill 2016 (Serial 160).
2. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Advance Personal Planning Amendment Bill 2016 (Serial 161).
3. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will move on the next sitting day - That the two bills titled Guardianship of Adults Bill 2016 (Serial 160) and Advance Personal Planning Amendment Bill 2016 (Serial 161):
- 1. be debated together, and in one motion be put in regard to the second reading, the committee’s report stage and the third reading of the bills, and
4. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Justice and Other Legislation Amendment (Records of Depositions and Other Matters) Bill 2016 (Serial 159).
5. Mr Elferink (Minister for Health) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Menzies School of Health Research Amendment Bill 2016 (Serial 163).
6. Mr Higgins (Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 (Serial 162).
7. Mr Chandler (Minister for Education) will move on the next sitting day – a motion Building a First Class Education System.
2.00 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
2.04 Mrs Finocchiaro to Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
2.07 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
2.11 Mr Conlan to Treasurer
2.15 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
2.18 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister – supplementary
2.20 Mr Kurrupuwu to Minister for Tourism
2.25 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
2.28 Mr Westra van Holthe to Minister for Business
2.32 Mrs Lambley to Chief Minister
2.36 Mr Gunner to Treasurer
2.40 Mr Conlan to Chief Minister
2.44 Mr Gunner to Treasurer
2.47 Mrs Finocchiaro to Minister for Business
2.51 Ms Lee to Minister for Sport and Recreation
2.54 Mr Westra van Holthe to Minister for Infrastructure
2.57 Ms Moss to Minister for Housing
3.02 Mr Conlan to Chief Minister
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
8. RED TAPE REDUCTION (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 2016 (Serial 157) – BILL AGREED TO
- Resumption of debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
The Assembly resolved to consider the Bill in detail.
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Consideration in Detail
The Assembly considered the Red Tape Reduction (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2016 (Serial 157).
Clauses 1 to 33 taken together and agreed to.
Clause 34 read.
Mr Styles (Member for Sanderson) moved the following amendment:
Clause 34, proposed regulation 8(b)(iii)
omit
each Director mentioned in subparagraph (i)
insert
the applicant
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 34 as amended agreed to.
The remainder of the Bill was taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill as amended agreed to.
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- On the motion of Mr Styles (Minister for Business), the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.
- The Speaker tabled the following Papers –
1. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Nhulunbuy, Ms Lynne Walker to travel to Ramingining, pursuant to clause 6.11, dated 17 March 2016 (Paper 1735).
- 1. Public Accounts Committee Report – Public Private Partnership Arrangements for the Darwin Correctional Precinct – Consideration Adjourned.
2. Public Accounts Committee Report – Inquiry into Structural Separation of the Power and Water Corporation – Consideration Adjourned.
3. Committee on the Northern Territory’s Energy Future Report – Key Challenges and Opportunities: Issues Paper – Consideration Adjourned.
4. Auditor-General for the Northern Territory – Report to the Legislative Assembly, August 2015 – Consideration Adjourned.
5. Auditor-General for the Northern Territory – Report to the Legislative Assembly, February 2016 – Consideration Adjourned.
6. Standing Orders Committee Report – Matters of Question Time Reform, Infant Care and Right of Reply, March 2016 – Consideration Adjourned.
7. Members’ Interests Committee Report – Proposal to Table Members’ Interests Returns and Upload the Tabled Documents on the Assembly Website Each Year – Consideration Adjourned.
11. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – ON-SHORE UNCONVENTIONAL GAS FRACKING
- The Speaker advised the Assembly that Ms Lawrie (Member for Karama) had proposed a definite Matter of Public Importance – The Northern Territory water resources, environment and natural landscapes are far more important than on-shore unconventional gas fracking.
Fracking gas fields in the United States have proven to poison water, destroy land use and devastate communities.
The Government and industry revenue and jobs predictions are based on the extraction of 200 trillion cubic feet of recoverable reserves and as the ACOLA Report from 2013 states, this would equate to approximately 55,000 wells across the three major shale gas basins identified in the Northern Territory.
For an industry with so many proven risks, and with extensive petroleum permits across the Northern Territory, including through underground drinking water resources, it is imperative that Territorians are given an opportunity to have a say on whether unconventional gas fracking goes ahead. Any Government decision to pursue unconventional gas fracking should go to a public referendum for a mandate.
Having received the necessary support - Discussion ensued.
Discussion concluded.
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Assembly adjourned at 7.13pm until Wednesday 20 April 2016 at 10.00am.
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PAPERS
The following papers were deemed to have been tabled on 19 April 2016 –
Coroners Act:
In the matter of the Coroner’s Findings and recommendations regarding the death of Mr William George Scott, pursuant to section 46B, dated 18 March 2016 (Paper 1734)
Subordinate Legislation 2016:
No. 7 of 2016, Police (Special Investigative and Other Powers) Regulations 2016 (Paper 1730)
No. 8 of 2016, Advance Personal Planning Amendment Regulations 2016 (Paper 1731)
No. 9 of 2016, Correctional Services Amendment Regulations 2016 (Paper 1732)
No. 10 of 2016, Motor Vehicles (Fees and Charges) Amendment Regulations 2016
(Paper 1733)
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ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings.
Michael Tatham
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016