Minutes of Proceedings - 2013-02-20
1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS.
3. VISITORS:
Leave denied.
Debate ensued.
10. LEAVE OF ABSENCE — MEMBER FOR BRENNAN:
13. OIL AND GAS — MINISTERIAL STATEMENT — STATEMENT NOTED:
Mr Westra van Holthe moved — That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS.
3. VISITORS:
- The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public gallery of students from Darwin High School accompanied by Anita Barrow.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
- The Speaker advised Members of complaints and concerns she had received from various Members about decorum during Question Time. The Speaker informed Members that she shared those concerns and would be writing to the Chair of the Standing Orders Committee, the Hon John Elferink, MLA, asking that the Committee inquire into and report to the Assembly on the matter of reforming Standing Orders applying to Question Time.
- The Speaker advised that warnings issued to Members in relation to maintaining order are not directed at Members personally, but are directed at Members who are disrespectful of the Chair. The Speaker assured Members that her rulings on disorder are not partisan and are intended to ensure that respect is accorded to the Chair, irrespective of the occupant, and to all Members of the Assembly.
- 10.04 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
10.07 Mr Styles to Chief Minister
10.11 Mr Gunner to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
10.13 Ms Finocchiaro to Minister for Transport
10.17 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
10.20 Mr Wood to Chief Minister, referred to Minister for Correctional Services
10.24 Mr Styles to Chief Minister
10.28 Ms Walker to Chief Minister
10.31 Ms Finocchiaro to Treasurer
10.34 Ms Lee to Minister for Mines and Energy
10.37 Ms Walker to Chief Minister, referred to Minister for Housing
10.40 Mr Styles to Minster for Mines and Energy
10.43 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister, referred to Minister for Infrastructure
Paper Tabled: Mr McCarthy, by leave, laid upon the Table the 2012 General Election Country Liberals Contract with Wadeye (Paper 251).
10.47 Mr Wood to Chief Minister, referred to Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment
10.49 Mr Kurrupuwu to Minister for Business
10.52 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister referred to Minister for Transport
10.56 Ms Lee to Minister for Local Government
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question paper.
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business), pursuant to notice, moved — That —During the current session of the Assembly, Standing Order 109(3)(b) be reworded in the following terms:
- ‘(b) the time for the answer of each question shall be sufficient to allow for the minister to provide an appropriate answer.’
Leave denied.
Debate ensued.
- Mr Gunner (Manager of Opposition Business) moved, an amendment —
That — before the words proposed to be substituted by the Leader of Government Business, Standing Order 109(3)(a) be amended in the following terms:
- ‘(a) the time allowed for questions shall be sufficient for the member to ask the question in an appropriate manner.’
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- Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public gallery of students from Charles Darwin University accompanied by Alan Day.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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- Mr Elferink sought leave for debate to be adjourned and the matter to be referred to the Standing Orders Committee for consideration and report.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned and the matter referred.
- Mr Giles (Minister for Local Government), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to repeal the Places of Public Entertainment Act.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Giles moved — That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper Tabled: Mr Giles laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 252).
On the motion of Ms Walker, debate was adjourned.
- 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) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
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Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 11.57am and 2pm.
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10. LEAVE OF ABSENCE — MEMBER FOR BRENNAN:
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That leave of absence be granted to Mr Chandler (Member for Brennan) for Thursday 21 February 2013 on account of Government business.
Question — put and passed.
- The following notice was given —
- 1. Mr Elferink: To present Supreme Court Amendment Bill 2013 (Serial 20).
- Mr McCarthy, by leave, presented Petition No 13 from 361 petitioners not conforming with Standing Orders in relation to Barkly Regional Sports Infrastructure in the Growth Towns of Borroloola, Elliott and Ali Curung (Paper 253).
13. OIL AND GAS — MINISTERIAL STATEMENT — STATEMENT NOTED:
- Mr Westra van Holthe (Minister for Mines and Energy) made a statement relating to the Northern Territory’s oil and gas industries.
Mr Westra van Holthe moved — That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
- Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Vatskalis, Mr Wood was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Paper Tabled: Mr Vatskalis, by leave, laid upon the Table a letter from Chief Minister Paul Henderson to Pacific Aluminium dated 13 July 2012 (Paper 254).
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Ms Fyles, Mr Vatskalis was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Question — put and passed.
- Mr Westra van Holthe (Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries) made a statement relating to the Northern Territory Government’s strategy for developing agribusiness as a key component of its proposed three-hub economy.
Quorum: Mr Vatskalis drew the attention of the Speaker to the state of the Assembly.
Bells having been rung and a Quorum having been obtained —
Debate continued.
Mr Westra van Holthe moved — That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
The time having reached 5.30pm, debate was suspended pursuant to Sessional Order (Mr McCarthy with 3 minutes remaining).
- Mr Wood, pursuant to Notice, moved — That the government scraps the $20 charge that will be required to be paid at MVR offices by Territorians who do not wish to or cannot pay the renewal of their registration or licence fees via the internet or over the telephone.
Debate ensued.
Question — put and negatived.
- Mr Vowles, pursuant to Notice, moved — That
- (a) the Government stop the planned and forced move of Tourism NT staff to Alice Springs until they have conducted extensive consultation with the tourism industry; and
(b) before any political decision is made to force Tourism staff to Alice Springs a fully costed relocation report is tabled to this House for consideration.
Question — put and negatived.
- Mr Vatskalis, pursuant to Notice, moved — That the Assembly:
- (a) supports the establishment of a new bulk billing super clinic in the northern suburbs at the location already earmarked or the clinic; and
(b) calls upon the NT Government to work closely with the Federal Government to ensure the speedy processing of the current proposal by a private provider for the establishment of the super clinic.
Debate adjourned pursuant to Sessional Order.
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved — That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Question — put and passed.
And the Assembly adjourned at 9.50pm until Thursday 21 February 2013 at 10am.
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PAPERS:
The following papers were deemed to have been presented on 20 February 2013 –
Annual Report 2011-12:
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission 2011-12, (Paper 249)
Serious Crime Control Act:
Annual Review under section 85, Exercise of appropriate powers, dated 18 December 2012 (Paper 250)
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- ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings.
Ian McNeill
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016