Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2009-10-19

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

    2. PRAYERS.

    3. PETITIONS:
        Response to petitions: The Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 100A, laid on the Table a response to Petition No. 18 re installation of new 66,000 Volt overhead power lines dissecting the Marlow Lagoon suburb Power easement and advised the responses would be incorporated in the Hansard record and Assembly website (Paper 529).
    4. FIRE AND EMERGENCY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2009 (Serial 62):
        The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Fire and Emergency Act and the Fire and Emergency Regulations.
        Bill read a first time.
        Mr Henderson moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: Mr Henderson laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Explanatory Statement, Fire and Emergency Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 62) (Paper 530).

        On the motion of the Member for Blain (Mr Mills) debate was adjourned.

    5. HOSPITAL BOARDS BILL 2009 (Serial 57):
        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.
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        Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public gallery of Mr Colin McDonald QC, Chair of the Royal Darwin Hospital Management Board and Essington School Year 7 students accompanied by Mr Daniel Hogg.
        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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        Debate continued.
        ______________________

        Visitors: The Speaker drew the attention of Members to the presence in the public gallery, and in the ministerial officers’ gallery, of two groups of Dripstone Middle School Year 7 students who were accompanied by Ms Salima Spring, Ms Sarah Belsham, and Ms Sam Bonser.
        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome.
        ______________________

        Debate continued.
        Debate suspended.
        _____________________

        Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.58am and 2pm.
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    6. STATEMENTS BY SPEAKER:
        The Speaker advised Members, of the need to conform with Standing Orders 51, 62 and 63 and adhere to the requirement to refrain from deliberately interrupting a Member Speaking with loud interjections, such interruptions to the proceedings make it almost unintelligible to those listening to the web broadcast of proceedings.
        The Speaker also informed Members that a number of complaints on this matter and the public had expressed clearly to her that it was difficult to clearly hear during Questions.
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        Distinguished visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of –
    Mr Neville Perkins OAM, former Member for Macdonnell and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly; and
    Hon Jim Lloyd former Federal Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads.
        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome.

    7. NOTICES:
        The following Notices were given:
        Ms Lawrie: To present the Racing and Betting Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 65).
        Mr Vatskalis: To present the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 71).
        Mr Knight: To present the Local Government Grants Commission Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 73).

    8. QUESTIONS:
        2.03pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        2.05pm Ms Walker to Mr Henderson.
        2.07pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills), by leave laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Victims, Selected offences, Northern Territory 1999 to 2008 - Table 7, Australian Bureau of Statistics, dated 4 June 2009 (Paper 531).

        2.11pm Ms Scrymgour to Ms Lawrie.
        2.15pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        2.20pm Ms Anderson to Mr McCarthy.
        2.21pm Mr Gunner to Dr Burns.
        2.23pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        2.26pm Mr Wood to Mr Henderson.
        2.28pm Mr Gunner to Mr Hampton.
        2.31pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        2.35pm Ms Walker to Mr Henderson.
        2.38pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.39pm Mr Westra van Holthe to Mr Henderson.
        2.45pm Ms Scrymgour to Dr Burns.
        2.47pm Mr Westra van Holthe to Mr Henderson.
        2.50pm Mr Gunner to Mr Vatskalis.
        Paper tabled: Mr Vatskalis laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Media Release, Arafura Resources Limited – Chinese money in the bank for Arafura, dated 12 June 2009 (Paper 542).

        2.52pm Mr Wood to Ms Lawrie.
        2.55pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        2.57pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
        3.01pm Mr Elferink to Mr Henderson.

        The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.

    9. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
        The Member for Braitling (Mr Giles) made a personal explanation, pursuant to Standing Order 57, of his speech of 15 October 2009 in which he referred to his comments on people smugglers.

    10. HOSPITAL BOARDS BILL 2009 (Serial 57):
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time –
        Debate resumed.
        Question – put and passed.
        Bill read a second time.
        On the motion of the Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) the Committee Stage of the Bill was postponed until a later hour.
    11. PUBLIC HOUSING - STATEMENT NOTED:
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement –
        Debate resumed.
        Question – put and passed.

    12. INDIGENOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
        The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Hampton) made a statement relating to Indigenous Economic Development Strategies being undertaken to promote jobs in rural and major towns of the Territory.
        Mr Hampton moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
        Debate ensued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) the Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
        Debate continued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Daly (Mr Knight) the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
        Debate continued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Johnston (Dr Burns) the Member for Daly (Mr Knight) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
        Debate continued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Johnston (Dr Burns) the Member for Katherine (Mr Westra van Holthe) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
        Debate continued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Greatorex (Mr Conlan) the Member for Fong Lim (Mr Tollner) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
        Debate continued.
        Debate adjourned, pursuant to Standing Order 41A.

    13. ADJOURNMENT, Automatic:
        The Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 41A, at 9pm proposed the question - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
        Debate ensued.
        And the Assembly adjourned at 9.50pm until Tuesday, 20 October 2009 at 10am.
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        PAPERS:
        The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on 19 October 2009 –

        Annual Reports
        Community Benefit Fund, 2008/09 (Paper 533)
        Department of Chief Minister, 2008/09 (Paper 538)
        Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources, 2008/09 (Paper 537)
        Northern Territory Licensing Commission, 2008/09 (Paper 532)
        Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment, 2008/09 (Paper 535)
        Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment, State of the Service Report, 2008/09 (Paper 536)
        TIO, 2008/09 (Paper 534)
        Youth Justice Advisory Committee, 2008/09 (Paper 539)
        TIO, Group Report, Statement of Corporate Intent, 1 July 2008 – 30 June 2009 (Paper 540)
        TIO, MAC Report, Statement of Corporate Intent, 1 July 2008 – 30 June 2009 (Paper 541)
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        ATTENDANCE:
        All Members attended the sittings.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016