Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1996-10-16

Seventh Assembly First Session 15/10/1996 Parliamentary Record No. 27
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Date : 16/10/1996
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1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker, the Honourable T.R. McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given:
      Mr Stone: To present the Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 193).
      Mr Stone: To present the Ombudsman (Northern Territory) Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 194).
      Mr Reed: To present the Bank of South Australia (Merger with Advance Bank) Bill 1996 (Serial 183).
      Mr Reed: To present the Environmental Offences and Penalties Bill 1996 (Serial 190).
      Mr Reed: To present the Water Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 191).
      Mr Burke: To present the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 182).
      Mr Burke: To present the Sentencing Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 186).
      Mr Burke: To present the Work Health Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 187).
      Mr Burke: To present the Prisons (Correctional Services) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 188).
      Mr Burke: To present the Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 189).
      Mr Palmer: To present the Seeds Ordinance Repeal Bill 1996 (Serial 185).
4. QUESTIONS:
    Questions were asked of Ministers.
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    Visitors: The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of Year 9 students from St John's College, and their teacher, Ms Sarah Kell; and students from the School of Commercial and Vocational Training at the Northern Territory University, and their lecturers Ms Shirlie Richardson and Ms Pamela Leeson.
      On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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      Further questions were asked of Ministers.
    Supplementary answer: The Deputy Chief Minister (Mr Reed) gave a supplementary answer to a question asked by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey) this day.
    The Minister for Education and Training (Mr Finch) gave a supplementary answer to a question asked by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey) during Question Time last week.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Manzie) laid on the Table the following Paper -
      News Release, “Buffalo-1 Exploration Well WA-260-P”, BHP Petroleum, dated 14 October 1996 (Paper 2754).

5. FURTHER NOTICE:
    The following further notice was given, by leave -
      Mr Coulter: To present the Australasia Railway Corporation Bill 1996 (Serial 184).

6. MANAGEMENT OF DARWIN HARBOUR ENVIRONMENT - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
    The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed) made a Statement relating to the management issues relevant to Darwin Harbour (Paper 2757).
      Papers tabled: Mr Reed laid on the Table the following Papers -

      Darwin Regional Land Use Structure Plan 1990, Department of Lands and Housing (Paper 2755);
      List of Reports and Studies carried out on Darwin Harbour (Paper 2756);
      The Mangrove Communities of Darwin Harbour by P. Brocklehurst and B. Edmeades, Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (Paper 2758);
      Darwin Coastal Erosion Survey by B. W. T. Comley, Land Resource Conservation Branch, Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, dated July 1996 (Paper 2759);
      Strategy for Waste Management and Pollution Control in the Northern Territory, dated September 1995, Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (Paper 2760);
      Guidelines for Mineral Exploration in Coastal Areas of the Northern Territory, Environment Protection Unit, Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory; Mines Environment Directorate, Department of Mines and Energy (Paper 2761);
      Construction Practice near Tidal Areas in the Northern Territory - Guidelines to prevent Mosquito Breeding, Northern Territory Coastal Management Committee, dated June 1988 (Paper 2762); and
      Guidelines for Effective Rehabilitation of Borrow Pits in the Top End, by R. J. Applegate, Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory, dated December 1983 (Paper 2763).

      Mr Reed moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
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      Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11.50 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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      Debate resumed.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Letter, Mr John Ah Kit, MLA, Member for Arnhem to Hon M. Reed. MLA, Minister for Environment, dated 17 January 1996 (Paper 2764);
      Letter, Hon Mike Reed, MLA to Mr John Ah Kit, MLA, Member for Arnhem, dated 21 February 1996 (Paper 2765);
      Letter, Ms Clare Martin, MLA, Member for Fannie Bay to Hon M. Reed, MLA, Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, dated 16 April 1996 (Paper 2766);
      Letter, N. A. Watson, Director Water Resources, Power and Water Authority to Mr Robert Walfare, dated 25 June 1996 (Paper 2767);
      Letter, Hon Mike Reed, MLA, Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment to Ms Clare Martin, MLA, Member for Fannie Bay, dated 23 May 1996 (Paper 2768);
      Statutory Declaration signed by James Laferla, dated 30 July 1996 (Paper 2769);
      Facsimile to Office of the Minister for Transport and Works from Bernie Phillips, Director Secretariat, Department of Transport and Works, dated 20 February 1996 (Paper 2770);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 1 November 1995 (Paper 2771);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 13 November 1995 (Paper 2772);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 18 October 1995 (Paper 2773);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 25 September 1995 (Paper 2774);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 25 September 1995 (Paper 2775);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 11 October 1995 (Paper 2776);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 12 December 1995 (Paper 2777);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 20 December 1995 (Paper 2778);
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 21 November 1995 (Paper 2779); and
      Order from Birdon Sands Pty Ltd to Flynn Petroleum, dated 5 October 1995 (Paper 2780).

      Debate continued.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Magazine, Fishing Territory - Guide to fishing and touring Australia’s Northern Territory (Paper 2781).
    Explanation of speech: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey), by leave, made an explanation of parts of his speech which he claimed had been misrepresented by the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed).
      Question - put and passed.
7.MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - FAILURE TO COUNTER ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR:
    The Speaker informed the Assembly that the Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne) had proposed the following definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion this day -
      “the failure by the Country Liberal Party Administration to effectively counter anti-social behaviour in the Northern Territory, particularly in Alice Springs”.

      The proposed discussion having received the necessary support -
      The Speaker called on Mr Toyne to address the Assembly.
      Discussion ensued.
    Suspension of Standing Orders: The Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Manzie) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Poole from completing his speech.
      Question - put and passed.
      Discussion concluded.
8. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 192):
    The Attorney-General (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Burke moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

9. SIGNING OF THE REMONSTRANCE - MOTION AGREED TO:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That, unless otherwise ordered, on Thursday 17 October 1996 immediately after the Speaker takes the chair and reads Prayers, all other business of the Assembly be postponed until after Honourable Members have had the opportunity to sign copies of the Remonstrance for the purpose of its transmission by the Speaker to the Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth Parliament, pursuant to the Resolution of the Assembly on Thursday 10 October 1996.
      Question - put and passed.
10. COPYRIGHT POLICY - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The order of the day having been read for resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Statement -
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.

11. AUDITOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, ANNUAL REPORT, 1994-95 ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OFFICE - PAPER NOTED:
    The order of the day having been read for resumption of the debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Paper -
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.

12. FINAL DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, SCHEDULE OF AMENDMENTS - PAPER TABLED - PAPER NOTED:
    The Chairman of the Sessional Committee on Constitutional Development (Mr Hatton) laid on the table a Schedule of Amendments to the Final Draft Constitution for the Northern Territory (Paper 2782).
      Mr Hatton moved - That the Assembly take note of the Paper.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
13. AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - NORTHERN TERRITORY AUDITOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE - PAPER NOTED:
    The order of the day having been read for resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Paper -
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
14. REGULATIONS 1996, No. 34, RIGHTS OF THE TERMINALLY ILL REGULATIONS - STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Chairman of the Subordinate Legislation and Tabled Papers Committee (Mr Setter) made a statement relating to Regulations 1996, No. 34, Rights of the Terminally Ill Regulations (Paper 2562).
    Mr Setter advised that the Committee had considered the Regulations and would not be moving a motion recommending the disallowance of these Regulations.
    Mr Setter moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Question - put and passed.

15. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 6.41 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
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    ATTENDANCE:
    All Members attended the sitting.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016