Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2014-08-26

1. MEETING
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable Kezia Purick took the Chair.
    2. PRAYERS
      3. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS ORDER:
          Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) laid upon the Table a copy of the Administrative Arrangements Order published in the Northern Territory Gazette No S71 dated 24 August 2014 (Paper 994).
      4. LEAVE OF ABSENCE – AGREED TO
      Ms Anderson (Member for Namatijira) moved – That a leave of absence for today be granted to Ms Lee (Member for Arnhem) on account of compassionate grounds.

          Motion agreed to.
      5. VISITORS
          The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of a year 9 class from Sanderson Middle School accompanied by Miriam Melis and Mark Conden and the Electorate Officers of the Opposition Members.

          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
      6. QUESTIONS
          10.02 Ms Lawrie to Chief Minister
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          Visitors: The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of Mrs Rhonda Higgins, wife of the Member for Daly, and her family.

          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitor.
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          10.07 Mr Higgins to Chief Minister
          10.11 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister
          10.14 Mr Barrett to Minister for Business
          10.17 Mr McCarthy to Chief Minister
          10.22 Mr Tollner to Chief Minister
          10.25 Mr Gunner to Chief Minister (referred to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice)
          10.30 Mr Wood to Minister for Transport
          10.33 Mrs Finocchiaro to Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing
          10.36 Mr Gunner to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
          10.40 Mr Vowles to Chief Minister (Ms Lawrie asked a supplementary question)
          10.47 Mrs Finocchiaro to Chief Minister
          10.50 Ms Lee to Minister for Housing

          Paper Tabled: Ms Lee (Member for Arnhem), by leave, laid upon the Table a Letter, Mr Francis Kurrupuwu, from Traditional Owners, Custodians and community members of Warruwi, South Goulburn Island, re Warruwi Housing Upgrades and Rebuilds to Minister Mr Matt Conlan, Minister for Housing, dated 7 July 2014 (Paper 995).

          10.55 Mr Barrett to Minister for Correctional Services
          10.59 Ms Fyles to Chief Minister
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          Withdrawal from Chamber: The Speaker ordered Ms Fyles (Member for Nightcliff) to withdraw from the Assembly for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
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          Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
      7. Tobacco Control Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 (Serial 88)
          Mrs Lambley (Minister for Health), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Tobacco Control Act and Tobacco Control Regulations.

          Bill read a first time.

          Mrs Lambley 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 participants from Operation Flinders Boot Camp.

          On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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          Paper Tabled: Mrs Lambley laid upon the Table the Explanatory Statement (Paper 996).

          On the motion of Ms Manison (Member for Wanguri) debate was adjourned.
      8. Correctional Services Bill 2014 (Serial 82) and Correctional Services (Related and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014 (Serial 83)
          Resumption of debate on the question - That the Bills be now read a second time.

          Debate resumed.

          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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      9. NOTICES
          The following notices were given:

          1. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Bill 2014 (Serial 91).

          2. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction for Native Title Matters) Bill 2014 (Serial 93).

          3. Mr Elferink (Attorney-General) will present on the next sitting day a bill entitled – Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction for Amendments) (No. 2) Bill 2014 (Serial 92).

          4. Ms Lawrie (Member for Karama) will present on the next General Business day a bill entitled – Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill 2014 (Serial 97).
      10. Correctional Services Bill 2014 (Serial 82) and Correctional Services (Related and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014 (Serial 83) – BILL AGREED TO
          Resumption of debate on the question - That the Bills be now read a second time.

          Debate resumed.

          Extension of Time: On the motion of Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy), Mr McCarthy (Member for Barkly) was granted an extension of time.

          Debate continued.

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

          Debate continued.

          Paper Tabled: Mr Elferink (Attorney-General), laid upon the Table – Poem, Prisoners by Judge Dennis A. Challeen (Paper 997).

          Question - put and passed.

          Bills read a second time.

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

          Mr Higgins (Chair of Committees) took the Chair.

          The Committee considered the Correctional Services Bill 2014 (Serial 82).

          Clauses 1 to 140 taken together and agreed to.

          Clause 141 read.

          Mr Elferink moved the following amendment to clause 141 -
            Clause 141, heading

            omit

            offender

            insert

            prisoner

          Amendment agreed to.

          Clause 141 as amended agreed to.

          Clauses 142 to 155 taken together and agreed to.

          Clause 156 read.

          Mr Elferink moved the following amendment to clause 156 -

            Clause 156(2)

            omit

            may

            insert

            must

          Amendment agreed to.

          Clause 156 as amended agreed to.

          Remainder of the Bill taken as a whole and agreed to.

          Bill to be reported with amendments.

          The Committee considered the Correctional Services (Related and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014 (Serial 83).

          Clauses 1 to Schedule 5 taken together and agreed to.

          Schedule 6 read.

          Mr Elferink moved the following amendment to clause 141 -

            Schedule 6, Cross-border Justice Act
                  omit

                  section 7(1), definition juvenile justice order, paragraph (a)
                  officer or surveillance
                  and parole
                  insert

                  section 7(1), definition juvenile justice officer, paragraph (a)
                  officer or surveillance
                  and parole
          Amendment agreed to.

          Schedule 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 Bills with amendments.

          The 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.
      11. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – Investment Attraction for Northern Territory Mining Projects – STATEMENT NOTED
          Mr Westra van Holthe (Minister for Mines and Energy) made a statement regarding results and benefits of the Northern Territory Government's International Investment Strategy.
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          Visitors: The Deputy Speaker advised Honourable Members of the presence in the gallery of members of the Sikh Association Northern Territory.

          On behalf of all Members the Deputy Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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          Mr Westra van Holthe moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.

          Debate ensued.

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

          Debate continued.

          Question – put and passed.
      12. PAPERS
          The Speaker laid upon the Table the Remuneration Tribunal Report, Travel Report, Member for Brennan, Mr Peter Chandler, to attend St Phillips College 25th Anniversary in Alice Springs on 4th April 2014, pursuant to clause 4.12, 21 dated August 2014 (Paper 998).
      13. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – Palmerston and Regional Hospital public consultation and scrutiny
          The Speaker advised the Assembly that Mr Wood (Member for Nelson) had proposed a definite Matter of Public Importance –

          The lack of public consultation and scrutiny into the design of Palmerston and Regional Hospital and associated infrastructure.

          Having received the necessary support - Discussion ensued.

          Discussion concluded.
      14. ADJOURNMENT
          Mr Elferink (Leader of Government Business) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.

          Paper Tabled: Ms Walker (Member for Nhulunbuy), by leave, laid upon the Table Judge Report Clean Beaches 2014, Nhulunbuy Northern Territory, Photograph, Grace Wununguwurra & Yupunu Fiona Marika, Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beaches Awards (Paper 999).

          And the Assembly adjourned at 9.53pm until Wednesday 27 August 2014 at 10.00am.
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          PAPERS
          No papers were deemed to have been Tabled on 26 August 2014.
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          ATTENDANCE
          All Members attended the sittings, except Mr Kurrupuwu on leave.

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