Minutes of Proceedings - 2014-03-19
1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. VISTORS
4. QUESTIONS
16. ADJOURNMENT
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. VISTORS
- The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of a Year 7 class from Rosebery Middle School and a visiting youth group.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
4. QUESTIONS
- 10.01 Ms Walker to Chief Minister
10.04 Mr Higgins to Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
10.07 Mr Vowles to Minister for Central Australia
10.08 Mr Higgins to Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
10.11 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
10.15 Mr Higgins to Minister for Central Australia
10.18 Mr Wood to Minister for Parks and Wildlife
Paper Tabled: Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) by leave, laid upon the Table – Letter, to Coordinator FrogWatch Nth Inc, re Notice of Intention to Terminate – Contract D11-0800: Increasing Community Education, Awareness and Management of Feral Animals for a period of 36 months (‘The Contract’), Andrew Bridges, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, dated 31 January 2013 (Paper 759).
10.22 Ms Manison to Minister for Health
10.25 Mr Higgins to Chief Minister
10.28 Ms Manison to Minister for Health
10.31 Mr Higgins to Minister for Correctional Services
10.34 Mr McCarthy to Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment
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Withdrawal from Chamber: The Speaker ordered Mr McCarthy (Member for Barkly) to withdraw from the Assembly for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
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10.39 Mr Higgins to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
10.42 Mr Wood to Minister for Education
10.45 Ms Walker to Minister for Housing
10.50 Mr Higgins to Minister for Health
10.53 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister (referred to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation)
10.56 Mr Higgins to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
10.59 Mr Vatskalis to Minister for Transport
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr Chandler (Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment) answered a question taken on notice asked earlier in the day.
Mr Styles (Minister for Infrastructure) answered a question taken on notice asked on 18 March 2014.
- Mr Chandler (Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to apply as a law of the Territory a national law relating to water efficiency labelling and standards, and for related purposes.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Chandler moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
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Visitors: The Deputy Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of three Year 5/6 classes from Leanyer Primary School.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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Debate continued.
Paper Tabled: Mr Chandler laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 760).
On the motion of Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) debate was adjourned.
- 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 detail.
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In Committee
In Committee
Mr Higgins (Chair of Committees) took the Chair.
Clauses 1 to 5 taken together and agreed to.
Clause 6 read.
Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) moved the following amendment to clause 6 -
Clause 6, heading
omit
5
insert
8
Amendment agreed to.
Mr Elferink moved the following amendment to clause 6 -
Clause 6
omit
447
insert
450
Amendment agreed to.
Mr Elferink moved the following amendment to clause 6 -
Clause 6, proposed Division 5, heading
omit
5
insert
8
Amendment agreed to.
Mr Elferink moved the following amendment to clause 6 -
Clause 6, proposed section 448, heading
omit
448
insert
451
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 6 as amended agreed to.
Remainder of the Bill taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill to be reported with amendments.
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The Assembly resumed; the Speaker took the Chair; Mr Higgins reported that the Committee had agreed to the Bill with amendments.
Madam Speaker put the question - That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
On the motion of Mr Elferink (Attorney-General), the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.
- Mrs Price (Minister for Parks and Wildlife) made a statement regarding the contribution of Parks and Wildlife to the Northern Territory.
Statement suspended.
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Suspension of sittings: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 12 noon and 2.00pm.
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- The following notice was given:
Ms Fyles (Member for Nightcliff) to move on the next General Business Day –
That this Assembly condemns the Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment for:
Granting a five-year Crown Lease for 98 hectares of Darwin Harbour without going to community consultation about the concept of a man-made residential island;
Failing to undertake community consultation or preparing a social and environmental impact analysis on the proposed Nightcliff island before issuing a lease and allowing geotechnical drilling to take place; and
We call on the Minister to stop moves to develop a residential island in our pristine harbour and accept our community values that Darwin is a city built around a uniquely beautiful harbour.
- Mrs Price (Minister for Parks and Wildlife) continued to make a statement regarding the contribution of Parks and Wildlife to the Northern Territory.
Mrs Price moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Elferink (Member for Port Darwin), Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Elferink, Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Elferink, Mr Styles (Member for Sanderson) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Chandler (Member for Brennan), Mr Conlan (Member for Greatorex) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Tollner (Member for Fong Lim), Mr Chandler was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Debate suspended.
- The following notice, by leave, was given:
Mr Tollner (Treasurer) to present a bill entitled – Motor Accidents (Compensation) Amendment Bill 2014 (Serial 71).
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General Business: The time being 5.30pm, General Business commenced.
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- Mr Vowles (Member for Johnston) pursuant to notice, moved – That the Legislative Assembly calls on the Chief Minister to discipline the Member for Greatorex for the disrespectful and abusive language he used towards the Member for Namatjira.
And that the Legislative Assembly makes a powerful statement to all Territory women that bullying in this workplace or anywhere is not acceptable in 2014.
Debate ensued.
Question – put
Pursuant to Standing Order 156 the Member for Namatjira called for a division and the Leader of the Opposition indicated support pursuant to Standing Order 157. The division was not required due the lack of any member voting with the noes.
Motion agreed to.
- Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) pursuant to notice, moved – That Standing Order 21A relating to the Public Accounts Committee be amended by inserting after paragraph (2)(e):
“(f) to inquire into and report to the Legislative Assembly on any matters within the executive authority of ministers of the Territory to which the committee is of the opinion that the attention of the Assembly should be drawn.”
Debate ensued.
By leave, the Assembly agreed to consider General Business - Orders of the Day No 1 and return to General Business Notices No 2 immediately after.
- Resumption of debate on the motion - That the 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.
Debate resumed.
Question – put and passed.
- Resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the motion - That Standing Order 21A relating to the Public Accounts Committee be amended by inserting after paragraph (2)(e):
“(f) to inquire into and report to the Legislative Assembly on any matters within the executive authority of ministers of the Territory to which the committee is of the opinion that the attention of the Assembly should be drawn.”
Debate ensued.
Question – put and passed.
- Resumption of debate on the motion - That this Assembly condemns the CLP for the deepening and ongoing chaos in the Territory Government – hurting families, and businesses and our lifestyle.
1. Inflicting PowerWater price hikes spiking the cost of living;
2. Ongoing turmoil in the NT Public Service with 5 Ministerial reshuffles and 2 Chiefs in 12 months;
3. Broken election promises across the Territory – from the city to the bush, including rising violent crime;
4. Cutting resources to our schools with less teachers and support staff;
5. Disputes with Public Servants – over pay and conditions and pay cuts; and
6. Dodgy deals and jobs for mates.
Debate resumed.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Chandler (Member for Brennan), Mr Tollner (Member for Fong Lim) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Westra van Holthe (Member for Katherine), Mr Styles (Member for Sanderson) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mrs Lambley (Member for Araluen), Mr Westra van Holthe (Member for Katherine), was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Elferink (Member for Port Darwin), Mr Chandler (Member for Brennan), was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Debate suspended
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Government Business: The time being 9.00pm, General Business concluded.
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16. ADJOURNMENT
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
And the Assembly adjourned at 9.11pm until Thursday 20 March 2014 at 10.00am.
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PAPERS
No papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 19 March 2014.
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ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings, except Ms Finocchiaro on leave.
Michael Tatham
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016