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Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-06-02

Eighth Assembly First Session 01/06/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 16
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Date : 02/06/1999
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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 advised Honourable Members of the presence in the public gallery of Year 5/6/7 students from Alawa Primary School accompanied by their teacher Ms Christine Neave.
    On behalf of Honourable Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

4. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given:
    Mr Coulter: To present the Electricity Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 159).
    Mr Coulter: To present the Power and Water Authority Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 160).
    Mr Coulter on behalf of and at the request of the Chief Minister (Mr Burke):
          To present the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 158).
    Mr Coulter on behalf of and at the request of the Chief Minister (Mr Burke):
          To present the Interpretation Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 157).

5. QUESTIONS:
    Questions were asked of Ministers.
    10:03 Ms Martin to Mr Coulter.
    10:04 Mr Lugg to Mr Reed.
    10:05 Mr Stirling to Mr Coulter.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) laid on the Table the following Papers -
Letter, Unknown to Mr John E Gardner, Chief Executive Officer, dated 4 December 1997 and Power and Water Authority - Operational Assessment as at 1 December 1997 (Paper 1264).

    10:10 Mr Mitchell to Mr Dunham.
    10:16 Mr Stirling to Mr Coulter.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Cabinet Submission – Power and Water Authority - Financial and Operational Improvement (Paper 1265).

    10:17 Mr Elferink to Mrs Braham.
    10:23 Mr Stirling to Mr Coulter.
    10:27 Mr Balch to Mr Baldwin.
    10:30 Mr Stirling to Mr Coulter.
    10:35 Dr Lim to Mr Adamson.
    10:39 Mr Stirling to Mr Coulter.
    10:42 Mr Elferink to Mr Reed.
    10:48 Mr Toyne to Mr Reed.
    10:49 Mr Mitchell to Mr Palmer.
    10:59 Mrs Martin to Mr Baldwin.

    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
6. THE AUSTRALASIA RAILWAY: THE FINAL STEP – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for the AustralAsia Railway (Mr Coulter) made a statement relating the choosing of a preferred consortium to build, own and operate the Adelaide to Darwin Railway (Paper 1266).
    Paper tabled: Mr Coulter laid on the Table the following Paper -
Final Report, Economic and Budgetary Impacts of the Alice Springs – Darwin Railway Project prepared for the Department of Transport and Works by Access Economics, Canberra, dated 2 June 1999 (Paper 1267).
    Mr Coulter moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.

    Question – put and passed.
7. TERRITORY BUSINESS CENTRES AND BUSINESS GROWTH - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Industries and Business (Mr Baldwin) made a statement relating to advances which have been put in place to assist Territory Business to grow and meet needs of the community (Paper 1268).
    Mr Baldwin moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
____________________
    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11:59h and 14:00h.
____________________
    Debate resumed.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Arnhem (Mr Ah Kit), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
Media release, N T Small Business confidence falls, dated 26 May 1999 (Paper 1269); and
Media release, Defence NT; Companies, Government contracts, dated 2 December 1998 (Paper 1270).
    Debate continued.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Barkly (Mrs Hickey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
Letter, Mr Paul Ruger, Mayor, The Tennant Creek Town Council to Hon Mike Reed, MLA, Deputy Chief Minister, dated 11 May 1999 (Paper 1271); and
Article, New Education Superintendent for Barkly, Tennant and District Times (Paper 1272).
    Debate continued.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Jingili (Mr Balch), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Article, Letters to the Editor, Tourism eyes GST, Tennant and District Times, 2 June 1999 (Paper 1273).
    Debate continued.
    Question - put and passed.
8. RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REEVES REPORT ON ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS – NOTICE OF MOTION WITHDRAWN:
    The Order of the Day having been read for the Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin) to move a motion relating to a response by the Government to recommendations contained in the report Building on Land Rights for the next generation: the review of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 by John Reeves.
    Ms Martin, by leave, withdrew the notice standing in her name.
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter), by leave, made a statement relating thereto.
9. STUDENT UNIONISM IN UNIVERSITIES – MOTION AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
    The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin), pursuant to notice, moved - That, this Assembly express concern at:
      (a) the Federal Liberal Government’s attempts to outlaw compulsory student unionism; and

      (b) the detrimental effect such a move will have on students receiving the benefit of a wide range of essential services currently provided. (Paper 1274)
    Debate ensued.
    The Minister for Tertiary Education and Training (Mr Adamson) moved the following amendment –
    Omit all words after “That” and insert in their stead “this House, while objecting to compulsory unionism, express it’s concern with the amendments to the Commonwealth’s Higher Education Funding Act which, if passed, will have a negative impact on the Northern Territory University’s ability to raise revenue for services and amenities for students.” (Paper 1275).
    Debate ensued.
    The Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne) moved the following amendment to the amendment moved by Mr Adamson –
    Omit all words after “That” and insert in their stead “this House recognizing that the Commonwealth legislation does not abolish compulsory unionism as such, express it’s concern with the amendments to the Commonwealth’s Higher Education Funding Act which, if passed, will have a negative impact on the Northern Territory University’s ability to raise revenue for services and amenities for students.” (Paper 1276).
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved – That the question be now put.
    Question – put and passed.
    Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 6 NOES, 15

    Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
    Mr Bailey Mr Balch
    Ms Martin Mr Baldwin
    Mr Rioli Mrs Braham
    Mr Stirling Mr Coulter
    Mr Toyne Mr Dunham
    Mr Elferink
    Mr Hatton
    Dr Lim
    Mr Lugg
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mitchell
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed

    Amendment to the amendment negatived accordingly.
    Debate resumed on the main question and the amendment moved by Mr Adamson.
    The Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) moved – That the question be now put.
    Question – put and passed.
    Question – That the amendment be agreed to - put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 16 NOES, 6

    Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
    Mr Balch Mr Bailey
    Mr Baldwin Ms Martin
    Mrs Braham Mr Rioli
    Mr Coulter Mr Stirling
    Mr Dunham Mr Toyne
    Mr Elferink
    Mr Hatton
    Dr Lim
    Mr Lugg
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mitchell
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed
    Mr Stone

    And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
    Amendment agreed to.
    Question - That the motion, as amended, be agreed to - put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T .R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 16 NOES, 6

    Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
    Mr Balch Mr Bailey
    Mr Baldwin Ms Martin
    Mrs Braham Mr Rioli
    Mr Coulter Mr Stirling
    Mr Dunham Mr Toyne
    Mr Elferink
    Mr Hatton
    Dr Lim
    Mr Lugg
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mitchell
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed
    Mr Stone

    And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
    Motion, as amended, agreed to.

10. PLANNING IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY – MOTION AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
    The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin), pursuant to notice, moved - That, this Assembly condemn the Country Liberal Party's failure to establish a fair, transparent and consistent planning regime to appropriately accommodate the aspirations of the Territory community or the needs of developers. (Paper 1277)
    Debate ensued.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Baldwin) laid on the Table the following Papers –
Alice Springs Regional Land Use Structure Plan 1989, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1278);
Darwin Regional Land Use Structure Plan 1990, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1279);
Litchfield Land Use Structure Plan 1990, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1280);
Gunn Point Peninsula Land Use Structure Plan 1990, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1281);
Murrumujuk Land Use Concept Plan 1990, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1282);
Cox Peninsula Land Use Structure Plan 1990, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1283);
Mandorah Land Use Concept Plan 1990, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1284);
Finniss Land Use Structure Plan 1990, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1285);
Litchfield District Centres Land Use Concept Plan 1992, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1286);
Katherine Land Use Structure Plan 1991, Department Lands & Housing (Paper 1287);
Alice Springs Central Area, Land Use Objectives & Planning Concepts, November 1996, Department Lands, Planning & Environment (Paper 1288);
Mt Johns Valley, Land Use Objectives & Planning Concepts, October 1996, Department Lands, Planning & Environment (Paper 1289); and
Article, Thumbs up for city skyline, Northern Territory News, dated Friday 28 May 1999 (Paper 1290).

    Debate continued.
    Mr Baldwin moved the following amendment –

    Omit all words after “That” and insert in their stead “this Assembly endorses the Country Liberal Government’s successes since Self-Government to establish a fair and transparent land use planning regime, recognising land use planning is dynamic, and provides the necessary balance to meet community needs in a constantly changing world.” (Paper 1291).

    Amendment agreed to.
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved – That the question be now put.
    Question – put and passed.
    Question – That the motion, as amended, be agreed to - put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 15 NOES, 6

    Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
    Mr Balch Mr Bailey
    Mr Baldwin Ms Martin
    Mrs Braham Mr Rioli
    Mr Coulter Mr Stirling
    Mr Dunham Mr Toyne
    Mr Elferink
    Mr Hatton
    Mr Lugg
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mitchell
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed
    Mr Stone

    And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
    Motion, as amended, agreed to.

11. EAST TIMOR – MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
    The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey), pursuant to notice, moved -That this Assembly, as the closest Australian Parliament to East Timor -

        (a) condemn the current spate of lawlessness sweeping through our near neighbour;

        (b) call on the government of Indonesia to take immediate action to restore law and order within East Timor;

        (c) call on the Australian Government to use whatever means it can to ensure that the government of Indonesia immediately restore law and order in East Timor and failing this, that the Australian Government take action to facilitate an international response to achieve this end;

        (d) call on the Northern Territory government to use whatever means it can to ensure that the government of Indonesia immediately restores law and order within East Timor and directly lobby the Australian Government to take the action outlined in paragraph (c); and

        (e) transmit this motion to the:
              Indonesian President;
              Indonesian Consulate in Darwin;
              Australian Prime Minister;
              Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs;
              Australian Leader of the Opposition; and
              Australian Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. (Paper 1292)
    Debate ensued.
    The Minister for Asian Relations and Trade (Mr Manzie) moved the following amendment –

    Omit all words after “That” and insert in their stead “ this Assembly, consistent with the views expressed by the national governments of Australia and Indonesia:

    (a) reaffirms the right of the people of East Timor to determine their own destiny – autonomy, independence or as a province of the Republic of Indonesia;
    (b) calls upon regional governments to provide humanitarian support to the people of East Timor during the current unrest in that country;
    (c) endorses the commitment of the Northern Territory Government to establish Darwin as an operational centre for such humanitarian and logistical support;
    (d) expresses profound sympathy and support for those Timorese families who have become casualties in the recent unrest and fighting between pro-integrationist and independence movements; and
    (e) the contents of this motion be forwarded to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Alexander Downer MP. (Paper 1293)

    Debate ensued.
    The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey), by leave, moved the following amendment to the amendment moved by Mr Manzie –

    Omit from paragraph (e) all words after “the contents of this motion be forwarded to the” and insert in their stead “Australian Prime Minister; Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs; Australian Leader of the Opposition; and Australian Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.” (Paper 1294).

    Amendment to the amendment agreed to.
    Amendment, as amended, agreed to.
    Motion, as amended, agreed to.
12. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL 1999 (Serial 121):
    The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time –
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and negatived.
13. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE - REFERENCE INTO FUNDING PROJECTS ON ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES AND OUTSTATIONS – EXTENSION OF TIME TO REPORT – MOTION AGREED TO:
    The Member for Nelson (Mr Lugg), by leave, moved - That all words after “Assembly”, in paragraph (2) as contained in the motion establishing the Public Accounts Committee’s reference of inquiry into Funding of Development Projects on Aboriginal Communities and Outstations passed by the Assembly on 24 February 1998, be omitted and the following words inserted in their stead – “during the August 1999 sittings.” (Paper 1295).
    Question – put and passed.
14. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
    Question – put and passed.
    And the Assembly adjourned at 19:26h until 10:00h on Thursday 3 June 1999.
    ATTENDANCE:
    All Members attended the sitting.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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