Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1997-05-01

Seventh Assembly First Session 29/04/1997 Parliamentary Record No. 33
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Date : 01/05/1997
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1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00h, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker, the Honourable T.R. McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. BROADCASTING IN THE CHAMBER:
The Speaker advised Honourable Members that approval had been given for NTD Channel 8 and ABC TV to access Hansard equipment and film in the Chamber; and the NT News to photograph for the purpose of rebroadcasting the Leader of the Opposition’s speech in reply to the Budget, live to air.

4. VISITORS:
The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of Filipino local government officers accompanied by Ms Jennie Chaplin from the Northern Territory University.
On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

5. INTERFERENCE TO BROADCAST:
The Speaker advised Honourable Members that he had been advised that a number of listeners to the Top FM broadcast of Question Time have complained of the interference caused by lap top computers to the quality of the broadcast.
The Speaker advised that the use of computers during Question Time is prohibited until further notice and informed Members that the use of lap top computers in the Chamber will be under review.
The Speaker requested that Members refrain from bringing mobile telephones into the Chamber at any time.

6. PETITIONS:
The Member for Barkly (Mrs Hickey) presented a petition from 31 petitioners requesting the Assembly to pass a comprehensive Freedom of Information Act as a matter of urgency (Paper 3237).
Petition read.

The Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin) presented a petition from 307 petitioners requesting the Assembly and the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment to overturn the decision by the Northern Territory Planning Authority to approve a 66 unit development at Parap (Paper 3238).
Petition read.

7. QUESTIONS:
10:05 Mrs Hickey to Mr Reed.
10:11 Dr Lim to Mr Reed.
10:15 Mr Bailey to Mr Reed.
10:18 Mr Adamson to Mr Coulter.
Paper tabled: The Minister for the Railway (Mr Coulter) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Article, New Railway, Bourke to Northern Territory - Syndicate’s Scheme, Sydney Morning Herald, dated December 1932 (Paper 3239).

10:25 Mr Rioli to Mr Hatton.
10:28 Ms Martin to Mr Palmer.
10:29 Mr Mitchell to Mr Hatton.
10:33 Mr Toyne to Mr Finch.
10:36 Mr Setter to Mr Stone.
10:38 Mrs Padgham-Purich to Mr Reed.
10:39 Mr Stirling to Mr Manzie.
10:40 Mrs Braham to Mr Burke.
10:42 Mr Toyne to Mr Coulter.
10:44 Mr Baldwin to Mr Stone.
Paper tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Letter, Maggie Hickey, MLA, Leader of the Opposition, to ALP party members, dated 23 April 1997
(Paper 3240).

10:55 Mr Setter to Mr Stone.
10:58 Mr Bailey to Mr Burke.
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.

8. APPROPRIATION BILL 1997-98 (Serial 232):
The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time -
Debate ensued.
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Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12:07h and 14:14h.
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Debate resumed.
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Distinguished Visitors: The Speaker drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the Gallery of Hon John Murray, Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, accompanied by Shadow Leader of the House, Mr Chris Hartcher, Deputy Chairman of Committees, Mr George Thompson, Opposition Whip, Mr Malcolm Kerr, National Party Whip, Mr Bruce Jeffrey and the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Russell Grove. On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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Personal explanation: The Member for Nelson (Mrs Padgham-Purich) made a personal explanation in relation to remarks made by the Member for Arnhem (Mr Ah Kit) during the Adjournment Debate on the previous day.
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Debate continued.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Transport and Works (Mr Coulter) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Graph, Northern Territory Government and Private Sector Major Capital Works Expenditure Trends for the Years 1990-91 to 2000 (Paper 3241).

Debate continued.
Paper tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Graph, Population Growth 1987-1996, Australian Bureau of Statistics.(Paper 3242);
Graph, Unemployment Rates, Annual Average between Australia and the Northern Territory, 1990-91 to 1996-97, Australian Bureau of Statistics.(Paper 3243);
Article, Budget comes as NT election looms, NT News, dated 29 April 1997 (Paper 3244); and
Article, Painless Territory Budget targets debt, The Australian, dated 1 May 1997 (Paper 3245).

Debate continued.
Ordered - That the Treasurer (Mr Reed) have leave to continue his remarks at a later hour.
Debate adjourned.

9. SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT
The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) moved - That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 17 June 1997 at 10:00h or such other time and/or date as may be set by Mr Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
Question put and passed.

10. ADJOURNMENT:
The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Papers tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) laid on the Table the following papers -
Letter, The Hon Bill Hayden, AC, to Hon Rob Borbidge, Premier of Queensland, dated 21 March 1997 (Paper 3246);
Letter, A long, long way from native title, Bill Hayden, The Australian, dated 24 April 1997 (Paper 3247); and
Book, Fit for the Gentler Sex, Helen Wilson and Barbara James, NT Women’s Advisory Council, in association with Dr Mickey Dewar, Curator of History, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, 1997 (Paper 3248).

Debate continued.
And the Assembly adjourned at 23:52h until Tuesday 17 June 1997 or such other time
and /or date as may be notified to Members by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
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PAPERS:
The following Paper was deemed to have been presented on Thursday 1 May 1997:

Annual Report:
Northern Territory Grain Marketing Board, Report on Operations and Audited Financial Statements 1995-96 (Paper 3236).
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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.

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