Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1992-08-11

Sixth Assembly First Session 11/08/1992 Parliamentary Record No. 11
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Date : 11/08/1992
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1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00 a.m., pursuant to resolution of the Assembly dated 21 May 1992. The Speaker, the
Honourable N.M. Dondas, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. NOTICES:
The following notices were given:
Mr Vale: To present the Local Government Amendment Bill 1992 (Serial 158).
Mr Vale: To present the Local Government Amendment Bill (No.2) 1992 (Serial 159).
Mr Vale: To present the Planning Amendment Bill 1992 (Serial 160).
Mr Vale: To present the Control of Roads Amendment Bill 1992 (Serial 161).

4. QUESTIONS:
Questions were asked of Ministers.

5. OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL, ANNUAL REPORT 1991-1992 - PAPER TABLED - PAPER PRINTED:
The Speaker laid on the Table the Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor-General for the year ended 30 June 1992.
The Treasurer (Mr Coulter) moved - That the Paper be printed.
Question - put and passed.

6. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE, SIXTH REPORT - PAPER TABLED - REPORT ADOPTED:
The Chairman of the Publications Committee (Mr Setter) laid on the Table the Sixth Report of the Publications Committee
recommending that the following Papers be printed:
________________________________________________________________ _______

Date
Title Tabled

Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary Board, Annual Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve, Plan of Management,
Attachment A 5. 3.92
Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve, Plan of Management
Attachment B, Public Representations 5. 3.92
Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve, Plan of Management,
Attachmnt C, Consideration of Public Representations 5. 3.92

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________________________________________________________________ _______
Date
Title Tabled

Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory,
Annual Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, Plan of Management 5. 3.92
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, Plan of Management
Public Representation 5. 3.92
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, Plan of Management,
Consideration of Public Representation 5. 3.92
Darwin Omnibus Service, Financial Statements 1990-91 25. 2.92
Darwin Port Authority, Annual Report 1990-91 20.11.91
Department of Health and Community Services, Annual
Report 1990-91 4. 3.92
Department of Industries and Development, Annual Report 1990-91 20.11.91
Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board,
Annual Report 1990-91 25. 2.92
Jabiru Town Development Authority, Annual Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Juvenile Justice Act, Annual Report 1991 4. 3.92
Litchfield National Park, Plan of Management, Attachment A 5. 3.92
Litchfield National Park, Plan of Management, Public
Representations, Attachment B 5. 3.92
Litchfield National Park, Plan of Management, Attachment C 5. 3.92
Museums and Art Galleries Board, Annual Report 1990-91 4. 3.92
Native Gap Conservation Reserve, Plan of Management 5. 3.92
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park, Annual Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Northern Territory Grain Marketing Board, Annual Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services,
Annual Report 1990-91 27. 2.92
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission, Annual Report 1990-91 27. 2.92
Northern Territory Tourist Commission,
Annual Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Office of Local Government, Annual Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Office of Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs, Annual
Report 1990-91 5. 3.92
Parole Board of the Northern Territory,
Annual Report 1991 5. 3.92
Public Trustee for the Northern Territory,
Annual Report 1991 25. 2.92
Road Safety Council of the Northern Territory,
Annual Report 1989-90 3. 3.92
Work Health Authority and Work Health Advisory Council,
Annual Report 1990-91 20.11.91

Mr Setter moved - That the Report be adopted.
Question - put and passed.

7. NORTHERN TERRITORY TOURISM - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
The Minister for Tourism (Mr Vale) made a statement relating to Tourism in the Northern Territory
following the release of the report "Northern Territory Tourism - The Way Ahead" by Mr Jim Kennedy.
Paper tabled: Mr Vale laid on the table the following Paper -

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Northern Territory Tourism - The Way Ahead, Review of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, Report
prepared by Mr J.J. Kennedy, CBE, Review Chairman, dated June 1992.

Mr Vale moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
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Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11.46 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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Debate ensued.
Proposed censure amendment:
The Member for Millner (Mr Parish) moved the following amendment -

Omit all words after "That" and insert in their stead the following:

"This Legislative Assembly censures the Minister for Tourism for:

(1) his refusal to acknowledge, prior to the publication of the Kennedy
Report, that there was anything the matter with Territory tourism and any
hiccups were due solely to external factors;

(2) his continued failure, even after the publication of the Kennedy Report,
to acknowledge that the tourism strategy of the 1980's simply did not
work and that the basis for a new strategy has to be an acknowledgement
of that fact;

(3) his failure to make any form of apology to those tourist operators who
relied on the Minister's pie-in-the-sky announcements to invest in the
industry and who have lost businesses, savings and homes as a result;

(4) his continued defence of Saatchi and Saatchi long after it was clear that
the Territory was getting very little return for its dollars;

(5) his failure, as the responsible Minister, to adequately supervise the
senior staff of the Tourist Commission;

(6) his failure, as responsible Minister, to ensure that proper financial and
accounting systems were in place to monitor Tourist Commission
expenditure;

(7) his failure to publicly reassure Commission staff, until four days after
the publication of the Kennedy Report, that staff would not be sacked;

(8) his continued failure to defend tourism interests at Cabinet level and,
in particular, his failure to have the repressive bed tax scrapped, or
overall funding for the Tourist Commission increased;

(9) his failure to properly consult with the tourism industry and take heed of
their calls for change; and

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(10) his complete failure as Minister for Tourism to show the necessary
leadership to the industry, to the public and to this Parliament.".

The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) informed the Assembly that the Government, pursuant to Standing Order 95,
accepted the amendment as a censure amendment.
Debate continued.
The Minister for Tourism (Mr Vale) moved - That the question be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 15 NOES, 9

Mr Coulter Mr Bailey
Mr Dondas Mr Bell
Mr Finch Mr Cartwright
Mr Hatton Mr Ede
Mr Manzie Mrs Hickey
Mr McCarthy Mr Lanhupuy
Mr Ortmann Mr Parish
Mrs Padgham-Purich Mr Stirling
Mr Palmer Mr Tipiloura
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
Mr Vale

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 9 NOES, 15

Mr Bailey Mr Coulter
Mr Bell Mr Dondas
Mr Cartwright Mr Finch
Mr Ede Mr Hatton
Mrs Hickey Mr Manzie
Mr Lanhupuy Mr McCarthy
Mr Parish Mr Ortmann
Mr Stirling Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Tipiloura Mr Palmer
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
Mr Vale

Amendment negatived accordingly.
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) moved - That the question - That the Assembly take note of the Statement
- be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

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AYES, 14 NOES, 11

Mr Coulter Mr Bailey
Mr Dondas Mr Bell
Mr Finch Mr Cartwright
Mr Hatton Mr Collins
Mr Manzie Mr Ede
Mr McCarthy Mrs Hickey
Mr Ortmann Mr Lanhupuy
Mr Palmer Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Perron Mr Parish
Mr Poole Mr Stirling
Mr Reed Mr Tipiloura
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
Mr Vale

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Question - That the Assembly take note of the Statement - put and passed.

8. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No.2) 1992 (Serial 149):
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 resumed.
Papers tabled: The Attorney-General (Mr Manzie) laid on the Table the following letters -

Mr N.R. Bell, MLA, Member for Macdonnell to Hon D.W. Manzie, MLA, Attorney-General, dated
26 June 1992;
Hon D.W. Manzie, MLA, Attorney-General to Mr N.R. Bell, MLA, Member for Macdonnell, dated
30 June 1992;
Mr B.R. Ede, MLA, Leader of the Opposition to Hon M.B. Perron, MLA, Chief Minister, dated 8 July 1992;
Hon M.B. Perron, MLA, Chief Minister to Mr B.R. Ede, MLA, Leader of the Opposition, undated;
and
Hon D.W. Manzie, MLA, Attorney-General to Mr N.R. Bell, MLA, Member for Macdonnell, dated
27 July 1992.

Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
Personal explanation: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, made a personal explanation in relation to
comments made by the Attorney-General (Mr Manzie) during debate.
Bill read a second time.
Leave refused: And the Attorney-General (Mr Manzie) having sought leave to move a motion for the third reading of the
Bill forthwith -
Objection being raised, leave not granted.

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

Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 read.
Debate ensued.

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Paper tabled: Mr Manzie laid on the Table the following Paper -

Decision on section 434.

Debate continued.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill to be reported without amendment.
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The Speaker (Mr Dondas) resumed the Chair, the Chairman (Mr Poole) reported accordingly; and the report was adopted.
The Attorney-General (Mr Manzie) moved - That the Bill be now read a third time.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.
The Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

10. REGISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL 1992 (Serial 150):
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 resumed.
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 Manzie) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

11. LIQUOR AMENDMENT BILL (No.2) 1992 (Serial 151):
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 resumed.
Question - put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
The Assembly, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bill.
____________________

In the Committee
(Deputy Chairman - Mr McCarthy)

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
Debate ensued.
The Chief Minister (Mr Perron) moved the following amendment -

Omit from proposed section 121(4) in paragraph (f) of clause 2 "is necessary" and insert in its stead "is
reasonably necessary".

Debate ensued.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill to be reported with an amendment.
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The Speaker (Mr Dondas) resumed the Chair; the Deputy Chairman (Mr McCarthy) reported accordingly; and the report
was adopted.
On the motion of Mr Perron the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

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12. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY - SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS - COGNATE CONSIDERATION OFORDERS OF THE DAY - MOTION AGREED TO:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent
Government Business, Orders of the Day Nos 12 and 13 relating to Reports of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Deaths in Custody being considered cognately and the questions relating to those Orders of the Day being put in
one motion to take note of the Papers and Statements.
Question - put and passed.

13. ADJOURNMENT:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.
The Assembly adjourned at 9.27 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.

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PAPERS:
The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Tuesday 11 August 1992:

Ayers Rock Resort Corporation Act:
Direction by Minister, pursuant to sections 17(1) and 26, dated 18 June 1992

Financial Administration and Audit Act:
Direction by the Administrator, Increase in Treasurer's Advance, pursuant to section 15(1), dated 26 June 1992
Direction by the Treasurer, Transfer of Funds Saved, pursuant to section 13(1)(b) -
Department of Transport and Works, dated 23 June 1992
Department of Industries and Development, dated 23 June 1992
Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services, dated 23 June 1992
Department of the Legislative Assembly, dated 29 June 1992
Department of the Chief Minister, dated 29 June 1992
Department of Lands and Housing, dated 29 June 1992
Department of Health and Community Services, dated 29 June 1992
Northern Territory Treasury, dated 29 June 1992
Department of Mines and Energy, dated 29 June 1992
Department of Industries and Development, dated 29 June 1992
School Education and the Arts, Post School Education and Training, dated 29 June 1992
Department of Law, dated 30 June 1992
Department of Correctional Services, dated 30 June 1992
Department of the Legislative Assembly, dated 30 June 1992

Plans of Management:
Howard Springs Nature Reserve and Hunting Reserve
Howard Springs Nature Reserve and Hunting Reserve, Public Representations
Howard Springs Nature Reserve and Hunting Reserve, Consideration of Public Representations

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Police Administration Act:
Police Arbitral Tribunal Determination -
No. T11 of 1991, dated 19 November 1991
No. T12 of 1991, dated 19 December 1991

Prisons (Arbitral Tribunal) Act:
Prison Officers Arbitral Tribunal Determination 10 -
Determination T9 of 1991, dated 8 January 1992

Regulations 1992:
No.23, Pastoral Land Regulations
No.24, Crown Lands Regulations
No.25, Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading (Door-to-Door Trading) Regulations
No.26, Amendments of Alice Springs (Council Meetings and Procedures) By-laws
No.27, Jabiru Town Development (Control of Dogs) By-laws
No.28, Water Regulations
No.29, Financial Institutions (Territory Supervisory Authority) Regulations
No.30, Amendments of the Prostitution Regulations
No.31, Amendment of Supreme Court Regulations
No.32, Amendments of Work Health Regulations
No.33, Barranyi (North Island) Local Management Committee Repeal Regulations
No.34, Tennant Creek (Control of Dogs) By-laws
No.35, Amendment of Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation By-laws
No.36, Amendment of Superannuation Scheme Rules
No.37, Amendment of Treasury Regulations
No.38, Amendments of the Brands Regulations
No.39, Amendments of the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading (Door-to-Door Trading) Regulations
No.40, Amendments of Classification of Publications Regulations
No.41, Amendments of Land and Business Agents Regulations
No.42, Keep River National Park Local Management Committee Regulations
No.44, Amendment of Greyhound Racing Rules
Barranyi (North Island) Local Management Committee Regulations

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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.

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Last updated: 04 Aug 2016