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Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-11-25

Eighth Assembly First Session 23/11/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 20
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Date : 25/11/1999
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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. VISITORS:
    The Speaker acknowledged the presence in the public galleries of Northern Territory University Adult Migrant Education Centre students accompanied by their lecturer Ms Isabelle Sharpe.
    On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

4. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES – WARRANT:
    The Speaker laid on the Table the following Warrant:
    W A R R A N T
    Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 12, I nominate the Honourable S Stone to act as Deputy Chairman of Committees when requested so to do by the Chairman of Committees.

    Given under my hand this twenty-fifth day of November, nineteen hundred and ninety-nine.

    TERRY McCARTHY
    Speaker (Paper 1649)

5. QUESTIONS:
    10:01 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:09 Mr Hatton to Mr Dunham.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) laid on the Table the following Papers –
Letter, Dr Paul Bauert, President NT Branch of the AMA to the Hon Stephen Dunham, dated 24 November 1999 enclosing letter form Dr Anthony Page (Paper 1650);
Memorandum, Minister Dunham to Secretary, Territory Health Services - Published comments of Dr Page alleging various wrongdoings at Royal Darwin Hospital, dated 24 November 1999
(Paper 1651);
Letter, Hon S Dunham to Mr Andrew Rutter, dated 24 November 1999 - Dr Page alleged spokesperson for Royal Darwin Hospital (Paper 1653); and
Letter, Hon S Dunham to Dr David Cox, Chairman, Medical Registration Board, dated 24 November 1999 - ABC TV News report non-consentual sterilisations of older Aboriginal women (Paper 1652).
    10:19 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:23 Mr Stone to Mr Reed.
    10:27 Mr Stirling to Mr Reed.
    10:31 Mr Balch to Mr Burke.
    10:38 Mr Rioli to Mr Burke.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Arafura (Mr Rioli), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Letter, Ms Martin to Hon D Burke, Chief Minister re Northern Territory Football League team participation in the South Australian National Football League, dated 27 October 1999
(Paper 1654).

    10:43 Dr Lim to Mr Dunham.
    10:46 Mr Ah Kit to Mr Manzie.
    10:54 Mr Balch to Mr Burke.

    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
6. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, ANNUAL REPORT 1998/99 – REPORT TABLED – REPORT PRINTED – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
    The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (Mr Poole) laid on the Table the Public Accounts Committee, Annual Report 1998/99 (Paper 1656).
    Mr Poole moved – That the report be printed.
    Question- put and passed.
    Mr Poole moved – That the Assembly take note of the Report.
    Ordered – The Mr Poole have leave to continue his remarks at a later hour.
    Debate adjourned.
7. AUSTRALASIA RAILWAY CORPORATION, ANNUAL REPORT 1998/99 – REPORT NOTED:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) laid on the Table the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, Annual Report 1998/99 (Paper 1655).
    Mr Burke moved – That the Assembly take note of the Paper.
    Question – put and passed.

8. FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FUTURE, PRESERVE AND BUILD ON THE LIFESTYLE OF ALL TERRITORIANS – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) made a statement relating to Territory lifestyle issues (Paper 1658).
    Mr Burke moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
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    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12:06 h and 14:15 h.
____________________

    Debate resumed.
    Question – put and passed.

9. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – CRIME PREVENTION UNITS:
    The Speaker advised that the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) had proposed for discussion as a definite matter of public importance this day:
      The continuing failure of mandatory imprisonment to reduce property offences and the need for a pro-active whole of government crime reduction strategy, with the first step the formation of a Crime Prevention Unit.

    The proposed discussion NOT having received the necessary support – Discussion lapsed.

10.ADMINISTRATORS PENSIONS AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 203); LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS’ SUPERANNUATION AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 204); and SUPREME COURT (JUDGES PENSIONS) AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 205):
    Suspension of Standing Orders: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) for and on behalf of Chief Minister (Mr Burke) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent three Bills, namely the Administrators Pensions Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 203), Legislative Assembly Members’ Superannuation Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 204), and Supreme Court (Judges Pensions) Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 205) –
      (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 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 Burke pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Administrators Pensions Act; a Bill for an Act to amend the Legislative Assembly Member’s Superannuation Act; and a Bill for an Act to amend the Supreme Court (Judges Pensions) Act.
    Bills read a first time.
    Mr Burke moved – That the Bills be now read a second time.
    Debate ensued.
    On the motion of the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) debate was adjourned.
11.ELECTRICITY REFORM BILL 1999 (Serial 210); UTILITIES COMMISSION BILL 1999 (Serial 211); ELECTRICITY NETWORKS (THIRD PARTY ACCESS) BILL 1999 (Serial 212); AND POWER AND WATER AUTHORITY AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (No. 2) 1999 (Serial 213):
    Suspension of Standing Orders: The Treasurer (Mr Reed) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent four Bills, namely the Electricity Reform Bill 1999 (Serial 210), Utilities Commission Bill 1999 (Serial 211), Electricity Networks (Third Party Access) Bill 1999 (Serial 212), and Power and Water Authority Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1999 (Serial 213) –
      (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 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 Reed , pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to regulate the electricity supply industry, to make provision for safety and technical standards for electrical installations and for other purposes; a Bill for an Act to establish the Utilities Commission and for related purposes; a Bill for an Act to establish a code to regulate third party access to electricity networks and for other purposes; and a Bill for an Act to amend the Power and Water Authority Act.
    Bills read a first time.
    Mr Reed moved – That the Bills be now read a second time.
    Debate ensued.
    On the motion of the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) debate was adjourned.
12.LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 207):
    The Minister for Local Government (Mrs Braham), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Local Government Act.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mrs Braham moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    Debate ensued.
    On the motion of the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) debate was adjourned.
13. AUSTRALASIA RAILWAY (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1999 (Serial 209):
    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 Treasurer (Mr Reed) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
14.NITMILUK (KATHERINE GORGE) NATIONAL PARK AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 181):
    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 Minister for Parks and Wildlife (Mr Reed) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

15. KAVA MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1999 (Serial 206):
    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 Minister for Racing, Gaming and the Environment (Mr Baldwin) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
16. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That Government Business, Orders of the Day, relating to the second reading of the Legislative Assembly Members’ Superannuation Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 204) be called on forthwith.
    Question- put and passed.
17. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS’ SUPERANNUATION AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 204), ADMINISTRATORS PENSIONS AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 203); AND SUPREME COURT (JUDGES PENSIONS) AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 205):
    Suspension of Standing Orders – Pass all Stages: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Legislative Assembly Members’ Superannuation Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 204), Administrators Pensions Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 203), and Supreme Court (Judges Pensions) Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 205) passing through all stages at this sitting.
    Question – put and passed – there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
    The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question – That the Bills be now read a second time –
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.
    Bills read a second time.
    Leave granted for a motion for the third readings of the Bills to be moved forthwith.
    On the motion of the Chief Minister (Mr Burke) the Bills were read a third time and passed to be proposed laws.

18. OMBUDSMAN OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, TWENTY FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, 1998/99 – REPORT TABLED – REPORT PRINTED – MOTION TO NOTE REPORT:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) laid on the Table the Twenty First Annual Report of the Ombudsman, 1998/99 (Paper 1659).
    Mr Burke moved – That the Report be Printed.
    Question – put and passed.
    Mr Burke moved – That the Assembly take note of the Report.
    Ordered – That Mr Burke have leave to continue his remarks at a later hour.
    Debate adjourned.
19. NEXT MEETING – MOTION AGREED TO:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 22 February 2000 at 10:00 h or such other time and/or date as may be set by Mr Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
    Question – put and passed.
20. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.
    And the Assembly adjourned at 18:45 h until Tuesday 22 February 2000 at 10:00 h or such other time and/or date as may be set by Mr Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
    PAPERS:
    The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 25 November 1999 –

    Annual Report:
    Anti-Discrimination Commission Northern Territory, 1998/99 (Paper 1648)
    Department of Corporate and Information Services, 1998/99 (Paper 1644)
    Department of Education, 1998/99 (Paper 1645)
    Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority, December 1998 (Paper 1646)
    Trade Development Zone Authority, 1998/99 (Paper 1647)
    Remuneration Tribunal Report and Determination No. 1 of 1999, Ministers and Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly (Paper 1657)

    Report:
    Northern Territory Quarantine Review, Commissioned by the Minister for Primary Industry & Fisheries, May 1999 (Paper 1660)

    ATTENDANCE:
    ALL Members attended the sittings except Mrs Hickey, on leave.

    Ian McNeill
    Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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