Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1995-08-24

Seventh Assembly First Session 22/08/1995 Parliamentary Record No. 14
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Date : 24/08/1995
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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. VISITORS:
The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence
in the gallery of students from Year 9 at Batchelor Area School and their teacher,
Ms Ruth Sheridan.
On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

4. QUESTIONS:
Questions were asked of Ministers.
Paper tabled: The Minister for the Railway (Mr Coulter) laid on the Table the following Paper -

. AusRAIL 95, RAIL - Transport for the 21st century - Convention & Exhibition
Program, The Australasian Railway Association Conference, 22 - 25 August 1995 (Paper 1939).

A further question was asked of a Minister.
Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede), laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Letter, Hon Shane Stone, MLA, Chief Minister to Mr Matthew Wonaeamirri,
Chairman, Tiwi Land Council, dated 18 August 1995 (Paper 1940).

Further questions were asked of Ministers.
Paper tabled: The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Letter, Shane L. Stone, NT Chief Minister to the Editor of the Australian,
"Southerners ride on NT's pygmy power", dated 7 July 1995(Paper 1941).

Further questions were asked of Ministers.
Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Newspaper advertisement, "See you at the show", Centralian Advocate, dated 6 July 1995 (Paper 1942).

Further questions were asked of Ministers.

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Paper tabled: The Minister for Asian Relations, Trade and Industry (Mr Poole) laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Report of the Delegation to the United Arab Emirates, 27 June to 4 July 1995
undertaken by Peter Seidel, Taffy Williams, and Noel Fullarton (Paper 1943).

Further questions were asked of Ministers.

Supplementary answer: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) gave a supplementary answer to a
question asked by the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) during Question Time today.

5. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That intervening business be
postponed until after consideration of General Business, Notice No. 1 relating to the
motion on nuclear testing standing in the name of the Leader of the Opposition.
Question - put and passed.

6. NUCLEAR TESTING BY CHINA AND FRANCE - MOTION AGREED TO:
The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) moved - That this Assembly -

(1) condemns the resumption of nuclear testing by the Peoples Republic of China;

(2) reaffirms its condemnation of nuclear testing by France;

(3) calls on all states and nations with nuclear capacity to join with the rest of the
world in ratifying a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty; and

(4) forward a copy of the Motion to the Minister for Foreign Affairs urging that he
accelerates his efforts towards a comprehensive nuclear test bans treaty.

Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.

7. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey), by leave, pursuant to Standing Order 57, made a
personal explanation claiming that the Chief Minister (Mr Stone) had misrepresented him
on a radio programme this day.
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That the Member be not further heard.
Question - That the Member be not further heard - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

AYES, 15 NOES, 8

Mr Adamson Mr Bailey
Mr Baldwin Mr Bell
Mrs Braham Mr Ede
Mr Burke Mrs Hickey
Mr Coulter Mr Lanhupuy
Mr Finch Ms Martin
Mr Hatton Mr Rioli

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Dr Lim Mr Stirling
Mr Manzie
Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.

8. EXPLANATION OF SPEECH:
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, pursuant to Standing Order 54, made an
explanation of his speech made during the debate on the Sentencing Bill 1995 (Serial 85)
and comments made by the Chief Minister (Mr Stone) during a radio interview this day.

9. NORTHERN TERRITORY EXPO 95 - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT -
STATEMENT NOTED:
The Minister for Asian Relations, Trade and Industry (Mr Poole) made a Statement
relating to the Northern Territory Expo 95 (Paper 1944).
Mr Poole moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
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Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11.59 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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Debate resumed.
Question - put and passed.

10. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL (No. 3) 1995, DRAFT BILL -
PAPER TABLED - PAPER NOTED:
The Minister for Local Government (Mr Manzie), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Local Government Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1995, Draft Bill (Paper 1950).

Mr Manzie made a Statement relating thereto (Paper 1949).
Mr Manzie moved - That Assembly take note of the Paper and Statement.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.

11. INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FOR THE LIVE CATTLE TRADE -
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Palmer) made a Statement relating to
the plans to identify and prioritise infrastructure support for the live cattle trade (Paper 1951).
Mr Palmer moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.

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12. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That intervening business be
postponed until after consideration of Government Business, Orders of the Day No. 17,
relating to the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway.
Question - put and passed.

13. ALICE SPRINGS TO DARWIN RAILWAY - MOTION AGREED TO:
The order of the day having been read for resumption of the debate on the question -
That the following motion be agreed to - That -

The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory:

(1) reaffirms its commitment to the completion of Australia's National Rail
Network and construction of the last link in that network, the Alice Springs to
Darwin Railway;

(2) requests the Commonwealth of Australia to honour its legislative and
constitutional obligations to ensure completion of the rail link in the Northern
Territory;

(3) urges the Commonwealth of Australia to:

(a) adopt a collaborative approach to developing the railway project, as
recommended in the recent Report of the Committee on Darwin;

(b) recognise the need to capture the considerable savings for Australia
available when existing long-distance freight is moved from road to rail
along the central corridor;

(c) reject the notion that the railway will not produce any significant benefit in terms of -

(i) northern development;

(ii) regional security; or

(iii) growth in international trade; and

(d) note that with determined effort the railway could be completed for the turn of the century;

(4) that this motion, its result and associated debate be communicated as soon as
possible to the Prime Minister of Australia.

Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.

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14. GAMING MACHINE BILL 1995 (Serial 101); and GAMING CONTROL
AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 1995 (Serial 102):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Take two Bills together:
The Minister for Racing and Gaming (Mr Coulter) moved - That so much of Standing
Orders be suspended as would prevent two Bills, namely the Gaming Machine Bill 1995
(Serial 101) and the Gaming Control Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 102) -

(a) being presented and read a first time together and one motion being put in
regard to, respectively, the second readings, the Committee's report stage, and
the third readings of the Bills together; and

(b) the consideration of the Bills separately in the Committee of the Whole.

Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of
Members present and no dissentient voice.
Mr Coulter, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for the regulation
and control of gaming machines and for related purposes; and a Bill for an Act to
amend the Gaming Control Act.
Bills read a first time.
Mr Coulter moved - That the Bills be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) debate was adjourned.

15. SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That the Assembly at its rising
adjourn until Tuesday 10 October 1995 at 10.00 a.m. or such other time and/or date as
may be set by Mr Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
Question - put and passed.

16. STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 103):
The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to
revise and correct the law of the Territory in minor respects.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Hatton moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) debate was adjourned.

17. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 90):
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.
Question - put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
The Assembly, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee of the whole for the consideration of the Bill.
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In the Committee
(Chairman - Mr Setter)

Clauses 1 to 10, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 11 negatived.

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Remainder of the Bill, by leave, taken as a whole, and agreed to, after debate.
Bill to be reported with an amendment.
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The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) resumed the Chair; and the Chairman (Mr Setter) reported
accordingly; and the report was adopted.
On the Motion of the Minister for Local Government (Mr Manzie) the Bill was read a third
time and passed to be a proposed law.

18. PETROLEUM (SUBMERGED LANDS) AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 88):
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.
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 Mines and Energy (Mr Reed) the Bill was read a third
time and passed to be a proposed law.

19. ASSOCIATIONS INCORPORATION AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 91):
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.
Question - That the Bill be now read a second time - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

AYES, 16 NOES, 8

Mr Adamson Mr Bailey
Mr Baldwin Mr Bell
Mrs Braham Mr Ede
Mr Burke Mrs Hickey
Mr Coulter Mr Lanhupuy
Mr Finch Ms Martin
Mr Hatton Mr Rioli
Dr Lim Mr Stirling
Mr Manzie
Mr McCarthy
Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Bill read a second time.
The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) sought leave to move a motion for the third reading of the Bill forthwith.
Objection being raised - leave denied.

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The Assembly, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the Bill.
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In the Committee
(Chairman - Mr Setter)

Bill, by leave, taken as whole.
Question - that the bill stand as printed - put.
Debate ensued.
On the motion of the Attorney-General (Mr Hatton), by leave, the following amendments to clause 3 were agreed to:

Omit from proposed section 25AZF(1) the words
"declared to apply to the incorporated association by
the Minister under section 25AZH(c)" and insert in
their stead "as prescribed";

Omit from proposed section 25AZH(a) "council" and
insert in its stead "council and has been approved for
receipt of funding for the purposes of local
government"; and

Omit from proposed section 25AZH, subclause (c).

Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill to be reported with amendments.
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The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) resumed the Chair; the Chairman (Mr Setter) reported
accordingly; and the report was adopted.
On the motion of the Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

20. ADJOURNMENT:
The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.
And the Assembly adjourned at 10.02 p.m. until Tuesday 10 October 1995 at 10.00 a.m. or
such other time and/or date as may be set by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.

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PAPERS:
The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 24 August 1995:

Annual Reports:
Centralian College, 1994 (Paper 1945)
Juvenile Justice Board of Management, Northern Region, 1994 - 95 (Paper 1953)
Juvenile Justice Board of Management, Southern Region, 1994 - 95 (Paper 1954)
Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority, 1994 (Paper 1946)
Uranium Mining (Environmental Control) Act, (16th), 1994 (Paper 1952)

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Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody:
Implementation of the Recommendations, 1993-94 (Paper 1948)
Summary Document, Implementation of Recommendations, 1993-94 (Paper 1947)

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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.

Ian McNeill
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

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Last updated: 04 Aug 2016