Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2014-05-07

1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
    2. PRAYERS
      3. STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
          The Speaker made a Statement acknowledging National Road Safety Week.
      4. VISITORS
          The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of:

          1. Two Year 5/6 classes from Bees Creek Primary School; and

          2. An Australian-Indonesian Partnership for Local Government Planning and Budgeting Study Tour.

          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
      5. QUESTIONS
          10.02 Mr Vowles to Chief Minister
          10.05 Ms Finocchiaro to Treasurer
          10.09 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister

          Paper Tabled: Mr Gunner (Member for Fannie Bay), by leave, laid upon the Table - Photograph, Blain By-Election Campaign, Mr Adam Giles, Mr Peter Maley, Mr Barry Coulter (Paper 805).

          10.12 Mr Kurrupuwu to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation
          10.16 Mr Barrett to Minister for Health
          10.19 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
          10.23 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister (supplementary question)
          10.24 Mr Barrett to Minister for Education
          10.27 Mr Wood to Chief Minister
          10.28 Mr Vatskalis to Chief Minister
          10.29 Mr Higgins to Minister for Parks and Wildlife
          10.32 Ms Walker to Minister for Local Government and Regions
          10.37 Ms Finocchiaro to Minister for Health
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          Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Jane Aagaard, former Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.

          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitor.
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          10.40 Ms Manison to Treasurer (referred to the Minister for Public Employment)
          10.46 Mr McCarthy to Minister for Transport
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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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          10.50 Mr Wood to Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment
          10.53 Mr Higgins to Minister for Health
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          Withdrawal from Chamber: The Speaker ordered Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) to withdraw from the Assembly for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
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          10.57 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
          10.58 Mr Higgins to Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation

          Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.

          In response to a question from Mr Gunner (Member for Fannie Bay), Mrs Lambley (Minister for Alcohol Rehabilitation) provided an explanation pursuant to Standing Order 118.
      6. Poppy Regulation Bill 2014 (Serial 78)
          Mr Westra van Holthe (Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to regulate the cultivation and processing of poppies.

          Bill read a first time.

          Mr Westra van Holthe moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.

          Debate ensued.
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          Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of two Year 5/6 classes from Bees Creek Primary School.

          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
          _________________

          Debate continued.

          Paper Tabled: Mr Westra van Holthe laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 806).

          On the motion of Ms Lawrie (Member for Karama) debate was adjourned.
      7. Suspension of Standing Orders to pass Poppy Regulation Bill 2014 (Serial 78) – MOTION
          Mr Westra van Holthe (Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries), pursuant to notice, moved that so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Poppy Regulation Bill 2014 (Serial 78) passing through all stages this sitting.

          Debate ensued.

          Debate 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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      8. Suspension of Standing Orders to pass Poppy Regulation Bill 2014 (Serial 78) – MOTION AGREED TO
          Resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the question - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Poppy Regulation Bill 2014 (Serial 78) passing through all stages this sitting.

          Debate ensued.
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          Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Mr Damien Ryan, the Mayor of Alice Springs, and Mr Steven Hennessy, the Acting Mayor of Daly.

          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
          _________________

          Debate continued.

          Question – put and passed.
      9. Motor Accidents (Compensation) Amendment Bill 2014 (Serial 71) – BILL AGREED TO
          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.

          On the motion of Mr Tollner (Treasurer) by leave, the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.
      10. Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 (Serial 76)
          Resumption of debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time.

          Debate resumed.

          Debate suspended.
      11. WARRANT - APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIRs OF COMMITTEES
          The Speaker made a statement regarding the appointment of Deputy Chairs of Committees.

          Paper Tabled: The Speaker laid on the Table - Warrant, Appointing Mr Gerry Wood and Mr Nathan Barrett as Deputy Chairs of Committees, dated 7 May 2014 (Paper 808).

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          General Business: The time being 5.30pm, General Business commenced.
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      12. Investigation into a Gas Pipeline – MOTION AGREED TO
          Mr Higgins (Member for Daly), pursuant to notice, moved - That this House expresses its support for the investigation into the feasibility of a gas pipeline which connects the Northern Territory with the Australian eastern seaboard.

          Debate ensued.

          Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Styles (Member for Sanderson), Mr Giles (Chief Minister) was granted an extension of time.

          Debate continued.

          Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Chandler (Member for Brennan), Mr Styles was granted an extension of time.

          Debate continued.

          Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Higgins, Mr Westra van Holthe (Member for Katherine) was granted an extension of time.

          Debate continued.

          Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Barrett, Mr Tollner (Treasurer) was granted an extension of time.

          Debate continued.

          Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr Higgins, Mr Barrett (Member for Blain) was granted an extension of time.

          Debate continued.

          Question – put and passed.

          The time being 9.00pm, General Business concluded.
      13. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS – MOTION AGREED TO
          Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Assembly debating and voting on General Business, Notice Number 2 – Local Government Choices.

          Debate ensued.

          Question – put and passed.
      14. Local Government Choices – MOTION AGREED TO
          Mr Wood (Member for Nelson), pursuant to notice, moved - That Local Government Councils in the Northern Territory be given the choice of appointing a person to run their own elections.

          Debate ensued.

          Paper Tabled: Ms Lawrie (Leader of the Opposition), by leave, laid upon the Table - Territory Labor Discussion Paper, Tackling Racial Vilification in the Northern Territory, May 2014 (Paper 809).

          Debate continued.

          Question – put and passed.
      15. Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 (Serial 76) – BILL AGREED TO
          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.

          The Assembly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bill in detail.
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          In Committee

          Mr Higgins (Chair of Committees) took the Chair.

          Bill taken as a whole and agreed to.

          Bill to be reported as printed.
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          The Assembly resumed; the Speaker took the Chair; Mr Higgins reported that the Committee had agreed to the Bill as printed.

          Madam Speaker put the question - That the Report be adopted.

          Motion agreed to.

          On the motion of Mr Tollner (Treasurer) the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.

      16. PAPERS
          The Speaker laid on the Table – Travel Report, Member for Johnston, Mr Ken Vowles, travel to Katherine to attend Annual NT Sports Awards and Lajamanu to attend the Central Land Council and meet with stakeholders as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Policy & Government Accountability, 28 March – 3 April 2014, pursuant to clause 4.12, dated 9 April 2014 (Paper 810).

          Ms Finocchiaro (Chair of the Public Accounts Committee) made a statement and laid on the Table - Inquiry into Structural Separation of the Power and Water Corporation, Public Accounts Committee, May 2014 (Paper 811).

          Ms Finocchiaro moved – That the paper be printed.

          Question – put and passed

          Ms Finocchiaro moved – That the Assembly take note of the report.

          Leave was granted for Ms Finocchiaro to continue her remarks at a later time.
      17. ADJOURNMENT
          Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.

          Debate ensued.

          And the Assembly adjourned at 12.12am on 7 May 2014 until Thursday 8 May 2014 at 10.00am.
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          PAPERS
          The following paper was deemed to have been Tabled on 7 May 2014 -

          Rules 2013:
          Totalisator Licensing and Regulation (Wagering) Amendment Rules 2013 (Paper 807).
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          ATTENDANCE
          All Members attended the sittings, except Ms Fyles on leave.






          Michael Tatham
          Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
      Last updated: 04 Aug 2016