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Minutes of Proceedings - 2009-05-07

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

2. PRAYERS.

3. PAIRS:
      The Speaker laid on the Table the Pair arrangements for this day, 7 May 2009, effective from immediately after Question Time:
The Member for Johnston (Dr Burns) and the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) being paired together for the 7 May 2009 (Paper 323); and
Member for Casuarina (Mr Vatskalis) and the Member for Sanderson (Mr Styles) being paired together for the 7 May 2009 (Paper 324).
    4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
        Public Transport, Bus Services: The Minister for Transport (Mr McCarthy) reported on the range of new public transport initiatives.
        Mr Giles responded.
        Mr Wood responded.
        Mr McCarthy replied.

        NT Muster Tourism Roadshow: The Minister for Business (Dr Burns) reported on the tourism product roadshow event NT Muster promoting the Territory as a key tourism destination.
        Mr Tollner responded.
        Dr Burns responded.

        Tennant Creek Foundation: The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Hampton) reported on the works and programs of the Tennant Creek Foundation to be established as a commercial vehicle to develop and promote culture and tourism in Tennant Creek.
        Mr Giles responded.
        Mr Hampton replied.

        Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Standing Orders.
    5. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT (EXPERT EVIDENCE) BILL 2009 (Serial 32):
        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 ensued.
        __________________

        Decision of Speaker: And the Member for Fong Lim (Mr Tollner) having had a number of points of order raised against him in regard to the relevance of his debate within the terms of the Bill on a number of occasions; and the Speaker having advised the Member for Fong Lim a number of times that he had failed to observe her requests for relevance in this debate, thereby requested the Member for Fong Lim to discontinue his debate -

        Dissent from decision of Speaker: The Member for Fong Lim (Mr Tollner), pursuant to Standing Order 82, moved dissent from this decision of the Speaker and submitted this dissent in writing which was seconded by the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink).
        Debate ensued.
        Closure: The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) moved - That the question be now put.
        Question - That the question be now put - put.
        The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. J. L Aagaard, in the Chair) -

        AYES, 12 NOES, 10

        Mrs Aagaard Mr Bohlin
        Ms Anderson Mr Chandler
        Dr Burns Mr Elferink
        Mr Gunner Mr Giles
        Mr Hampton Mr Mills
        Mr Henderson Ms Purick
        Mr Knight Mr Styles
        Ms Lawrie Mr Tollner
        Mr McCarthy Mr Westra van Holthe
        Ms McCarthy Mr Wood
        Mr Vatskalis
        Ms Walker


        Pairs: The Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) and the Member for Greatorex (Mr Conlan) being paired together for the 28, 29 and 30 April 2009 and 5, 6 and 7 May 2009.

        Tellers: Mr Gunner and Mr Elferink.

        And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
        Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
        The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. J. L Aagaard, in the Chair) -

        AYES, 9 NOES, 12

        Mr Bohlin Mrs Aagaard
        Mr Chandler Ms Anderson
        Mr Elferink Dr Burns
        Mr Giles Mr Gunner
        Ms Purick Mr Hampton
        Mr Styles Mr Henderson
        Mr Tollner Mr Knight
        Mr Westra van Holthe Ms Lawrie
        Mr Wood Mr McCarthy
        Ms McCarthy
        Mr Vatskalis
        Ms Walker


        Pairs: The Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) and the Member for Greatorex (Mr Conlan) being paired together for the 28, 29 and 30 April 2009 and 5, 6 and 7 May 2009.

        Tellers: Mr Gunner and Mr Elferink.

        Motion negatived accordingly.
        __________________

        Debate suspended on the motion - That the Criminal Code Amendment (Expert Evidence) Bill 2009 (Serial 32) be now read a second time.
        _________________

        Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
        _________________
    6. QUESTIONS:
        2.30pm Mr Giles to Mr Henderson.
        2.36pm Ms Walker to Mr Henderson.
        2.39pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        2.44pm Mr Gunner to Ms Lawrie.
        2.46pm Mr Mills to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.51pm Ms Walker to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.53pm Mr Mills to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.55pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
        2.58pm Mr Mills to Mr Vatskalis.
        3.02pm Mr Gunner to Dr Burns.
        3.08pm Mr Mills to Mr Vatskalis.
        3.10pm Ms Walker to Mr McCarthy.
        3.14pm Mr Wood to Ms McCarthy.
        3.17pm Mr Gunner to Ms Anderson.
        3.21pm Mr Mills to Mr Vatskalis.
        3.24pm Mr Gunner to Mr Vatskalis.
        __________________

        Suspension of Standing Orders: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving a motion censuring the Minister for Health.

        The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) informed the Assembly that the government accepted the motion as a censure motion, pursuant to Standing Order 95.
        __________________

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

    7. CENSURE OF MINISTER FOR HEALTH - MOTION NEGATIVED:
        The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills) moved - That the Assembly censure the Minister for Health (Mr Vatskalis) for misleading this parliament.
        Debate ensued.
        Question - put and negatived.

    8. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT (EXPERT EVIDENCE) BILL 2009 (Serial 32):
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question, suspended earlier this day - That the Bill be now read a second time.
        Debate resumed.
        Question - put and passed.
        Bill read a second time.
        Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
        On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Ms Lawrie) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
    9. APPROPRIATION (2009-2010) BILL 2009 (Serial 41) APPROPRIATION (ADDITIONAL FOR 2008-2009) BILL 2009 (Serial 40):
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question - That the Bills be now read a second time -
        Debate resumed.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Goyder (Ms Purick) the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

        Debate continued.
        Quorum: The Member for Fong Lim (Mr Tollner) drew the Deputy Speaker's attention to the state of the House.
        The Bells having been rung -
        And a quorum being obtained.

        Debate continued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Brennan (Mr Chandler) the Member for Braitling (Mr Giles) 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 Wanguri (Mr Henderson) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

        Debate continued.
        On the motion of the Minister for Transport (Mr McCarthy) debate was adjourned.
    10. PERSONAL EXPLANATION - MEMBER FOR PORT DARWIN:
        The Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink), by leave of the Speaker, made a personal explanation of events asserted by the Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) that Mr Elferink was viewing races during business of the Assembly as evidenced by the "Race Call" sound emanating from his laptop.
    11. POWER AND WATER CORPORATION STATEMENT OF CORPORATE INTENT 2009/2010 - PAPER TABLED - PAPER REFERRED TO GOVERNMENT OWNED CORPORATIONS SCRUTINY COMMITTEE:
        The Treasurer (Ms Lawrie), by leave, laid on the Table the Power and Water Corporation Statement of Corporate Intent 2009/2010 (Paper 326).
        Ms Lawrie made a statement relating thereto.
        Ms Lawrie moved - That the Power and Water Corporation Statement of Corporate Intent 2009/2010 be referred for consideration by the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee to be established to examine the 2009/2010 operations of the Power and Water Corporation.
        Debate ensued.
        Question - put and passed.
    12. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S FEBRUARY 2009 - REPORT NOTED:
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Report -
        Debate resumed.
        On the motion of the Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) debate was adjourned.
    13. ADJOURNMENT:
        The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson), at 9.02pm, moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
        Debate ensued.
        Papers tabled: The Speaker (Mrs Aagaard), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
    Westminster System 58th Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedures at Westminster 1 to 13 March 2009 - Summary Report of Discussion Sessions (Paper 329).

        Debate continued.
        Question - put and passed.
        And the Assembly adjourned at 9.27pm until Tuesday 9 June 2009 at 10am or such other time and/or date as may be set by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
        ______________________

        PAPERS:
        The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 7 May 2009 -
        Annual Report
        National Trust of Australia (NT) 2007/2008 (Paper 325)

        Financial Management Act
        Increase in Treasurer's Advance, pursuant to section 19(1), dated 4 March 2009 - Increase in Allocation to Treasurer's Advance by $31 709 000 (Papers 327)
        Transfer of Excess Allocations pursuant to section 20 of the Financial Management Act, dated 16 February 2009 - Transfer between Agencies (Paper 328)
        ______________________
        ATTENDANCE:
        All Members attended the sittings except -
      Mr Conlan and Ms Scrymgour, on leave for the April/May sittings 2009; and
      Ms Carney on leave for 5, 6 and 7 May 2009.

          Mr Ian McNeill
          Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
      Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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