Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government
Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

https://parliament.nt.gov.au
PRINT
Business
Home About Parliament Business
Parliamentary Record (Hansard) and Minutes of Proceedings with Advance Search
Meeting Documents
Tabled Papers
Standing and Sessional Orders
Northern Territory Legislation
Petitions and Responses
Written Questions
Summary of Meetings
Condolence Motions
Members Committees The Department

Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-04-21

Eighth Assembly First Session 20/04/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 15
__________________________________________________________________________________

Date : 21/04/1999
__________________________________________________________________________________

1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10.00 h. The Speaker, the Honourable T R McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew attention to the presence in the Gallery of Year 5/6/7 students from Humpty Doo School accompanied by their teachers Mrs Christine Walker and Mrs Jane Allan.
    On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

4. PETITION:
    The Member for Casuarina (Mr Adamson) presented a petition (No. 17) from 474 petitioners from the Territory, interstate and overseas requesting the Assembly to maintain of bilingual programs in Northern Territory Schools (Paper 1039).
    Petition read.

5. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given:
    Mr Burke: To present the Legal Practitioners Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 151).
    Mr Adamson: To present the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education Bill 1999 (Serial 152).

6. QUESTIONS:
    10:03 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:05 Mr Lugg to Mr Burke.
    10:10 Ms Martin to Mr Dunham.
    10:12 Mr Hatton to Mr Burke.
    10:15 Mr Stirling to Mr Manzie.
    10:17 Mr Balch to Mr Reed.
    Paper tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Article, Martin starts in old-fashioned way – by lying, Northern Territory News,
dated 13 February 1994 (Paper 1035).

    10:24 Mr Toyne to Mr Dunham.
    10:26 Mr Mitchell to Mr Burke.
    10:28 Ms Martin to Mr Dunham.
    Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Letter, Dr David Meadows to Health Insurance Commission, dated 12 April 1999 (Paper 1036).

    10:30 Mr Hatton to Mr Adamson.
    10:33 Mr Bailey to Mr Burke.
    10:36 Mr Elferink to Mr Adamson.
    10:40 Mr Ah Kit to Mr Burke.
    10:42 Mr Mitchell to Mrs Braham.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Housing (Mrs Braham) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Letter, Ms Martin, Member for Fannie Bay to constituents, dated 7 July 1998 (Paper 1037).
    10:47 Mrs Hickey to Mr Burke.
    10:48 Mr Balch to Mr Baldwin.
    10:52 Mr Rioli to Mr Burke.
    10:53 Mr Lugg to Mr Dunham.
    10:58 Ms Martin to Mr Dunham.
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
7. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – CHALLENGES FOR THE TERRITORY’S HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES SECTOR – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) made a statement relating to the issues and future directions of the Territory’s health system (Paper 1038).
    Paper tabled: Mr Dunham laid on the Table the following Paper –
Strategy Twenty First Century, Strategic Intent, Territory Health Services 1999-2003 (Paper 1040).
    Mr Dunham moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
    ____________________

    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12:01h and 14:00h.
    ____________________
    Debate resumed.
    Question – put and passed.
8. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – DEFENCE FORCE INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Defence Support and Regional Development (Mr Baldwin) made a statement relating to the involvement of the Australian Defence Force’s involvement in the Northern Territory (Paper 1044).
    Mr Baldwin moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.
9. YEAR 2000 INFORMATION DISCLOSURE BILL 1999 (Serial 150):
    The Minister for Communications, Science and Advanced Technology (Mr Manzie), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to encourage the voluntary disclosure and exchange of information about year 2000 computer problems and remediation efforts, and for other purposes.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mr Manzie moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne) debate was adjourned.
10. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (KATHERINE RATES) BILL 1999 (Serial 149):
    The Minister for Local Government (Mrs Braham), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to correct errors in the percentages specified for the purposes of calculating differential rates in the municipality of Katherine for the financial years 1997/98 and 1998/99.
    Bill read a first time.
    Suspension of Standing Orders – Pass Bill through all stages: Mrs Braham moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Local Government (Katherine Rates) Bill 1999 (Serial 149) passing through all stages at these sittings.
    Question – put and passed – there being and absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
    Mrs Braham moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Member for Arafura (Mr Rioli) debate was adjourned.
11. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
    The Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) moved – That Government Business, Orders of the Day No. 1 relating to the Radiation (Safety Control) Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 146) be postponed until after consideration of Orders of the Day Numbers 2 and 3.
    Question –put and passed.
12. MISUSE OF DRUGS AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 145):
    The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a third 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 Attorney-General (Mr Burke) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
13. EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 138):
    The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a third 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 Attorney-General (Mr Burke) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

14. RADIATION (SAFETY CONTROL) AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 146):
    The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a third time –
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.
    Bill read a second time.
    --------------
    In Committee
    (Chairman - Mr Mitchell)


    Clauses 1 to 8, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
    Clause 9 read.
    On the motion of the Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) the following amendments were agreed to -

    Omit proposed section 55A(b);
    Omit proposed section 55D(1) and substitute the following:
      '(1) If a person is found guilty of an offence referred to in section 55A, the costs incurred by the Territory in –
          (a) taking action to render safe a radioactive substance or irradiating apparatus to which the offence relates or to otherwise protect the public because of the act or omission that constitutes the offence;

          (b) seizing, detaining or removing the substance or apparatus or the package, container, vehicle, vessel or aircraft in or on which it was contained or kept when seized, detained or removed;

          (c) investigating the commission of the offence;

          (d) storing the substance or apparatus until the court makes the finding of guilt; and

          (e) disposing of, destroying or rendering safe the substance or apparatus under section 55B,

          is a debt due and payable to the Territory by the person.'; and


    Omit from proposed section 55D(3) 'of the disposing of, destroying, rendering safe or otherwise dealing with the substance or apparatus or of restoring or repairing the land, building or other property, as the case may be,'.
    Clause, as amended, agreed to.
    Title agreed to.
    Bill, as amended, agreed to.
    Bill to be reported with amendments.
    -------------
    The Assembly resumed.
    The Speaker resumed the Chair, the Chairman (Mr Mitchell) reported that the Committee had considered the Bill and agreed to the same with amendments.
    On the motion of the Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
15. ORDER OF BUSINESS – SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS TO CALL ON GENERAL BUSINESS RELATING TO EAST TIMOR:
    The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) sought leave to move a motion forthwith, calling on General Business, Notice Number 2 relating to East Timor.
    Objection being raised, leave denied.
    Suspension of Standing Orders: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent General Business, Notice Number 2, relating to East Timor, being called on forthwith.
    Question – put and negatived - there being and absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and dissentient voices being raised.
16. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.
    And the Assembly adjourned at 18:19h until 10:00h on Thursday 22 April 1999.
    -----------------

    PAPERS:
    The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Wednesday 20 April 1999:

    Regulations 1999:

    No. 11, Mining Amendment Regulations (Paper 1041)
    No. 12, Lands Acquisition Amendment Regulations (Paper 1042)
    No. 13, Petroleum Amendment Regulations (Paper 1043)
    -----------------

    ATTENDANCE:
    All Members attended the sitting except Mr Stone and Dr Lim, on leave.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
￴