Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2008-09-16

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

2. PRAYERS.

3. PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS-IN-REPLY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR:
      The Speaker advised Members that it was her intention to present the Address-in-Reply to His Honour the Administrator at 11am today and invited all Members to accompany her at this time. A program has been distributed to Members (Paper 62).

4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
      Land Release Initiatives: The Minister for Planning and Lands (Ms Lawrie) reported on the government's land release initiatives to satisfy housing demand.
      Ms Purick responded.
      Mr Wood responded.
      Ms Lawrie replied.

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      Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Public Gallery of Mr Robert Macleod, Mayor of Palmerston; and Kalkaringi Community Education Centre, Year 5/6 students accompanied by Mr David Young.
      The Speaker on behalf of all Members extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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      Green Tourism and Carbon Offset: The Minister for Tourism (Mr Vatskalis) reported on the development of nature based and green tourism in the Territory and the carbon offset of the industry.
      Mr Tollner responded.
      Mr Wood responded.
      Mr Vatskalis replied.

      Darwin Festival 2008: The Minister for Arts and Museums (Ms Scrymgour) reported on the Darwin Festival events and activities for 2008.
      Mr Bohlin responded.
      Mr Wood responded.
      Ms Scrymgour replied.

      Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Standing Orders.

5. ECONOMIC DIRECTION OF THIRD LABOR GOVERNMENT - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
      The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) made a statement relating to the directions for a strong economy for the Territory under a Labor Government.
      Mr Henderson moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate suspended.
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      Suspension of sitting: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 10.45pm and 2pm.
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6. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY - PRESENTATION TO ADMINISTRATOR:
      The Speaker advised Members that, accompanied by honourable Members I attended upon his Honour the Administrator this day and there and then presented to him the Address-in-Reply to the speech his Honour delivered on the occasion of the opening of the Eleventh Assembly, and that his Honour had been pleased to make the following reply:
          Madam Speaker, thank you for your Address-in-Reply which you have presented to me.

          It will afford me great pleasure to convey to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, through the Governor-General, the message of loyalty of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory of Australia to which the Address gives expression.
      Statement by Speaker: The Speaker reminded Members of recent unruly behaviour and requested adherence to Standing Orders 51, 62 and 63.

7. PROPOSED VISIT OF THE HONOURABLE DR JOSE RAMOS-HORTA:
      The Speaker advised Members of the proposed visit by the Honourable Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste on 30 October 2008.

8. NOTICES:
      The following notice was given -
      Dr Burns: To present the Gaming Machine Amendment (Anti-Proliferation) Bill 2008 (Serial 8).

9. QUESTIONS:
      2.03pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
      2.10pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
      2.13pm Mr Conlan to Dr Burns.
      2.15pm Ms Walker to Ms Lawrie.
      2.17pm Mr Conlan to Dr Burns.
      2.20pm Ms Walker to Ms Scrymgour.
      2.24pm Mr Conlan to Dr Burns.

      Freedom of Speech: The Speaker drew Members attention to the Sessional Order on Freedom of Speech and asked Members to adhere to those conditions.

      2.28pm Mr Gunner to Mr Vatskalis.
      2.31pm Mr Conlan to Dr Burns.
      2.32pm Mr McCarthy to Mr Vatskalis.
      2.34pm Mr Conlan to Dr Burns.
      2.38pm Mr McCarthy to Mr Hampton.
      2.41pm Mr Wood to Mr Knight.
      2.45pm Ms Walker to Mr Knight.
      2.48pm Mr Conlan to Dr Burns.
      Paper tabled: The Minister for Health (Dr Burns) laid on the Table the following Papers -
Health Expenditure, recurrent - per person by source of funds, 2004/2005 (2003/2004 dollars) and Health Workforce (Paper 43); and
Average FTE staff per 1000 people, public hospitals, 2005/2006 - Activity, admitted patient care (Paper 42).

      2.50pm Ms Walker to Ms Anderson.
      2.53pm Mr Mills to Dr Burns.
      2.57pm Mr Gunner to Mr Vatskalis.
      3.00pm Mr Wood to Mr Henderson.
      3.01pm Mr McCarthy to Mr Hampton.

      The Leader of Government Business (Ms Lawrie) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
10. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S AUGUST 2008 REPORT - MOTION TO NOTE:
      The Speaker laid on the Table the Report of the Auditor-General for August 2008 to the Legislative Assembly(Paper 44).
      The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Report be Printed.
      Question - Put and passed.
      Mr Henderson made a statement relating thereto.
      Mr Henderson moved - That the Assembly take note of the Report.
      Leave granted to Mr Henderson to continue his remarks at a later hour.

11. ECONOMIC DIRECTION OF THIRD LABOR GOVERNMENT - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
      The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the motion - That the Assembly take note of the Statement -
      Debate resumed.
      Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Greatorex (Mr Conlan) the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

      Debate continued.
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      Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 5.20pm and 6.15pm.
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      Debate resumed.
      Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

      Debate continued.
      On the motion of the Leader of Government Business (Ms Lawrie) debate was adjourned.
12. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - HOUSING LAND SHORTAGE:
      The Speaker advised the Assembly that the Member for Drysdale (Mr Bohlin) had proposed the following definite Matter of Public Importance for discussion this day:
          "The failure of the Territory Government to address the housing land shortage, housing affordability and the lack of planning for future housing needs in the Territory.".

      The proposed discussion having received the necessary support -
      Discussion ensued.
      Paper tabled: The Member for Drysdale (Mr Bohlin), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
Biting Midge Pest Calendar for Darwin 2008 by Peter Whelan and Nina Kurucz (Paper 46); and
Palmerston East Biting Insect Assessment Map, Figure 1 and Figure 2 (Paper 45).

      Discussion continued.
      Discussion concluded.

13. ADJOURNMENT:
      The Minister for Health (Dr Burns) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 8.57pm until Wednesday 17 September 2008 at 10am.
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      PAPERS:
      There were no Papers deemed to have been presented on Tuesday 16 September 2008.
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      ATTENDANCE:
      All Members attended the sittings.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016