Minutes of Proceedings - 2014-02-11
1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
4. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS ORDER
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) laid upon the Table – Administrative Arrangements Order, Gazette S5, dated 3 February 2014 (Paper 699).
5. VISITORS
6. QUESTIONS
11. RESPONSE TO PETITIONS
14. PAPERS
15. ADJOURNMENT
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS
3. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
- The Speaker advised Members of receipt of the following Message from Her Honour the Administrator (Paper 698):
Message No 13 – Assent to Proposed Laws
I, SALLY THOMAS AC, the Administrator for the Northern Territory of Australia, advise the Legislative Assembly, pursuant to section 7 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the Commonwealth, the assent to the following proposed laws:
18 December 2013
Alcohol Protection Orders Act 2013 (Act No 31 of 2013)
Care and Protection of Children Amendment (Legal Representation and Other Matters) Act 2013 (Act No 32 of 2013)
Children’s Commissioner Act 2013 (Act No 33 of 2013)
Local Government Amendment (Restructuring) Act 2013 (Act No 34 of 2013)
19 December 2013
Advance Personal Planning Act 2013 (Act No 35 of 2013)
Advance Personal Planning (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013 (Act No 36 of 2013)
Community Housing Providers (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2013 (Act No 37 of 2013)
Constitutional Convention (Election) Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 38 of 2013)
Energy Pipelines Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 39 of 2013)
Parole of Prisoners Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 40 of 2013)
Petroleum Amendment Act 2013 (Act No 41 of 2013)
Wills Amendment (International Wills) Act 2013 (Act No 42 of 2013)
SALLY THOMAS AC
Administrator
4. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS ORDER
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) laid upon the Table – Administrative Arrangements Order, Gazette S5, dated 3 February 2014 (Paper 699).
5. VISITORS
- The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of the College Leaders from O'Loughlin Catholic College accompanied by Mr David Finch.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
6. QUESTIONS
- 10.03 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
10.05 Ms Finocchiaro to Chief Minister
10.08 Ms Walker to Chief Minister
10.14 Ms Lee to Chief Minister
10.18 Ms Fyles to Chief Minister
10.22 Mr Higgins to Minister for Education
10.26 Mr Vowles to Chief Minister
10.30 Ms Anderson to Treasurer
10.33 Mr Wood to Minister for Local Government and Regions
10.36 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
10.38 Mr Kurrupuwu to Treasurer
10.41 Ms Manison to Chief Minister
10.45 Ms Finocchiaro to Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
10.48 Mr Wood to Treasurer
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Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Year 5/6 class from Howard Springs Primary School.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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10.53 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
10.57 Mr Higgins to Treasurer
Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
- 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 Elferink(Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) by leave, the Bill was read a third time and was passed to be a proposed law.
- Mr Giles (Chief Minister) made a statement updating the Assembly on the efforts the Government is making to plan for the future of Nhulunbuy.
Mr Giles moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
- 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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- The Speaker informed the Assembly of the death on 6 February 2014 of Mr Sid Parker, OAM.
The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of family, friends and distinguished visitors.
Mr Giles (Chief Minister) by leave, moved - That this Assembly express its condolences at the passing of Mr Parker, and extend deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
Debate ensued.
Question – put and passed.
As a mark of respect Members stood in their places in silence for one minute.
- The following notice was given:
Ms Fyles (Member for Nightcliff) to move on the next General Business Day - That this Assembly condemns the CLP for its continual attacks on Territory workers.
The CLP promised that frontline workers would be safe and then went about sacking hundreds of Public Servants on contracts
The CLP are so out of touch with the spiralling cost-of-living with inflation running at 4.4% they are offering a pay cut in real terms to teachers, fire fighters and paramedics who have voted to take industrial action against their appalling treatment.
The CLP are in dispute with bus drivers – who have an uncertain future because they are selling Darwin Bus Service. The CLP are in dispute with port workers over job losses and there are very real shudders of concern running through prison officers and PowerWater staff.
When the fire fighters spoke out about their plight the Attorney-General shamefully accuses them of trading on their good name to line their own pockets.
The Attorney-General should apologise immediately and move to ensure the pay offer is a fair one, not less than CPI.
Workers are not surprised the Government is now trying to scrap the May Day public holiday where internationally workers embrace the successful campaign for the 8-hour working day. This CLP has done nothing but attack workers since it won Government on false promises.
Stop the bullying and start working with Territorians who are just trying to earn a decent pay for a decent effort and support their families to live here under an increasing cost of living.
11. RESPONSE TO PETITIONS
- The Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 100A, laid upon the Table Responses to Petition Numbers 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 ,30, 31, 32 and 33 (Paper 703).
- Resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate resumed.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr McCarthy (Member for Barkly), Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Extension of Time: On the motion of Mr McCarthy, Ms Lawrie (Leader of the Opposition) was granted an extension of time.
Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
- Mr Tollner (Treasurer) made a statement updating the Assembly on the current state of the Territory economy.
Mr Tollner moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
- Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.
14. PAPERS
- The Deputy Speaker tabled the following Travel Reports –
1. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Nhulunbuy, Ms Lynne Walker, travel to Galiwinku (Elcho Island) and homeland of Gawa to meet with constituents who raised a number of matters around local government, housing, the state of the roads, the cost of power, the lack of support for homelands and education, 11th - 13th November 2013, pursuant to paragraph 4.12, dated 5 December 2013 (Paper 704).
2. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Arafura, Mr Francis Kurrupuwu, travel from Bathurst to Darwin and Katherine for opening of new Arnhem Office, to attend a meeting with the Department of Land Management and Regions regarding West Arnhem Shire Council, returned to Bathurst to attend funeral between 17th - 22nd November 2013, pursuant to paragraph 4.12, dated 6 January 2013 (Paper 705).
3. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Johnston, Mr Ken Vowles, travel to Alice Springs on 12th - 14th August 2013, to attend the industry forum as part of the preparation of the Tourism Recreation Master Plan for the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission, pursuant to paragraph 4.12, dated 25 November 2013 (Paper 706).
4. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Wanguri, Ms Nicole Manison, travel to Alice Springs and Tennant Creek on 11th - 12th November 2013, to see key health facilities and meet with service providers in the region, pursuant to paragraph 4.12, dated 17 December 2013 (Paper 707).
5. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Johnston, Mr Ken Vowles, travel to Canberra as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Policy to attend historical event for Indigenous Territorians 12th – 13th November 2013, pursuant to paragraph 4.12, dated 7 February 2014 (Paper 708).
6. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Blain, Mr Terry Mills, travel to Cowra, NSW to attend and participate in Indonesia Update 2013 at the Australian National University Canberra on 13th - 23rd September 2013, pursuant to paragraph 4.12, dated 7 February 2014 (Paper 709).
7. Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Travel Report, Member for Barkly, Mr Gerry McCarthy, travel to Townsville and Mt Isa researching the opportunities for Tourism in regional mining towns and Underground Mine Tour on 27th October – 1st November 2013, pursuant to paragraph 4.12, dated 20 December 2013 (Paper 710).
15. ADJOURNMENT
- Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
And the Assembly adjourned at 7.47pm until Wednesday 12 February 2014 at 10.00am.
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- PAPERS
The following papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 11 February 2014 -
Annual Reports 2012/2013
Board of the Australian Crime Commission, 2012/2013 (Paper 700)
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park Board, Year Ended 30 June 2013 (Paper 701)
Auditor-General:
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board, Year ended 30 June 2013, dated 26 November 2013 (Paper 702)
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ATTENDANCE
All Members attended the sittings.
Michael Tatham
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016