Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-04-29

Eighth Assembly First Session 20/04/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 15
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Date : 29/04/1999
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1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10.00 h. The Speaker, the Honourable T R McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. PETITION:
    The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke) presented a petition (No. 21) from 154 petitioners requesting the Assembly to act immediately to repeal the mandatory sentencing legislation (Paper 1115).
4. QUESTIONS:
    The Treasurer (Mr Reed) advised Members that in the absence of the Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) he would respond to questions directed to Mr Coulter’s ministerial portfolio areas of responsibility, on his behalf.

    10:02 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:03 Mr Stone to Mr Burke.
    10:10 Mr Bailey to Mr Burke.
    10:11 Mr Balch to Mr Burke.
    10:17 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:19 Mr Elferink to Mr Reed.
    10:30 Mr Toyne to Mr Palmer.
    10:36 Dr Lim to Mr Adamson.
    10:42 Mr Ah Kit to Mr Reed.
    10:48 Mr Lugg to Mr Dunham.
    10:55 Mr Stirling to Mr Reed.
    10:57 Dr Lim to Mrs Braham.

    The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Palmer) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
5. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
    The Treasurer (Mr Reed) moved – That intervening business be postponed until after consideration of Government Business Notice No. 1, relating to the Pay-roll Tax Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 156) and Orders of the Day No 1, relating to the Appropriation Bill 1999-2000 (Serial 154).
    Question – put and passed.
6. PAY-ROLL TAX AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 156):
    The Treasurer (Mr Reed), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Pay-roll Tax Act.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mr Reed moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin) debate was adjourned.
7. APPROPRIATION BILL 1999 – 2000 (Serial 154):
    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.
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    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11:58h and 14:00h.
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    Debate resumed.
    The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Elferink) requested that the Member for Arnhem (Mr Ah Kit), pursuant to Standing Order 256, table the document he had quoted from during debate.
    Paper tabled: Mr Ah Kit thereupon laid on the Table the following Paper –
Speech notes to 1999-2000 Budget response (Paper 1116).

    On the motion of the Member for Jingili (Mr Balch) debate was adjourned.
8. BUDGET PAPERS 1999-2000, CORRIGENDUM – PAPERS TABLED:
    The Treasurer (Mr Reed) laid on the Table replacement pages for the following Budget Papers previously presented during the Treasurer’s Budget Speech -
Budget Paper No. 1, 1999-2000 corrigendum, Replacement pages 21 and 24 (Paper 1117); and
Budget Paper No. 2, 1999-2000 corrigendum, Replacement pages 4, 7, 9, 11, 61, 99, 111, 142, 172, 188, 260 and 341 (Paper 1117).

    Mr Reed made a statement relating thereto.
9. NEXT MEETING – MOTION AGREED TO:
    The Treasurer (Mr Reed) moved – That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 1 June 1999 at 10.00 am or such other time and/or date as may be set by Mr Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
    Question – put and passed.
10. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – TERRITORY TAXI, MINI BUS AND PRIVATE HIRE CAR INDUSTRIES:
    The Speaker advised that the Member for Arnhem (Mr Ah Kit) had proposed as a definite matter of public importance this day:
      “The difficulties currently facing the Territory taxi, mini bus and private hire car industry.”.
    The proposed discussion having received the necessary support –
    The Speaker called upon Mr Ah Kit to address the Assembly.
    Discussion ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Arnhem (Mr Ah Kit), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Taxi Log Book (Paper 1118).

    The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Elferink) requested that the Member for Arnhem (Mr Ah Kit), pursuant to Standing Order 256, table the documents he had quoted from during debate.
    Papers tabled: Mr Ah Kit thereupon laid on the Table the following Papers –
ACTU Media Release, AIRC grants low paid $12 wage increase – Rejects employer and government submissions Minimum wage now more than $10 an hour, dated 29 April 1999 (Paper 1120);
Table, Average Taxi Driver income – 1 Jan 99 to 8 April 99 (Paper 1121); and
Speech notes (Paper 1119).

    Discussion continued.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Jingili (Mr Balch), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
Graph, Number of Taxis available and number of customers waiting at Darwin Airport for 12 April – 18 April 1999 (Paper 1123);
Graph, Number of Taxis available and number of customers waiting at Darwin Airport for 29 March – 4 April 1999 (Paper 1124);
Graph, Number of Taxis available and number of customers waiting at Darwin Airport for 22 March – 28 March 1999 (Paper 1125);
Graph, Number of Taxis available and number of customers waiting at Darwin Airport for 5 April – 11 April 1999 (Paper 1122);
Brochure, A time for change – A policy for regulation of commercial passenger vehicles, Department of Transport and Works (Paper 1127);and
Brochure, Taxis Minibuses Private Hire Cars – How the changes affect you, Northern Territory Government (Paper 1126).

    Discussion continued.
    Discussion concluded.

11. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Minister for Local Government (Mrs Braham) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
    Debate ensued.
    The Member for Jingili (Mr Balch) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Report on North American Study Tour by Mr Steve Balch and associated materials- in compliance with the Remuneration Tribunal Determination, Ministers and Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly - Overseas Travel of Members requirement (Paper 1128).

    Question – put and passed.
    And the Assembly adjourned at 19:10h h until 10:00 h on Tuesday 1 June 1999 or such other time and/or date as may be set by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
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    ATTENDANCE:
    All Members attended the sitting except Mrs Hickey, on leave.
    Ian McNeill
    Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016