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Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-02-24

Eighth Assembly First Session 16/02/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 14
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Date : 24/02/1999
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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. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 7 students from Gray Primary School accompanied by their teachers Miss Margaret Couper and Miss Sylvia Steen.
    On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitor.

4. PETITIONS:
    No. 11 - The Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin) presented a petition, not conforming with Standing Orders, from 566 petitioners requesting the government provide adequately resourced publicly funded and operated hospitals and essential services. (Paper 978)
Petition read.
    No. 10 – The Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne) presented a petition from 3023 petitioners praying that support be maintained for bilingual programs in Northern Territory schools. (Paper 979)
    Petition read.

5. NOTICES:
The following notices were given:
    Mr Coulter: To present the AustralAsia Railway (Third Party Access) Bill 1999 (Serial 148).
    Mr Dunham: To present the Radiation (Safety Control) Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 146).

6. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE – REFERENCE, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON ABORIGINAL OUTSTATIONS – AMENDMENT TO REPORTING DATE:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter), 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 April 1999 sittings.”. (Paper 980)
    Question – put and passed.

7. QUESTIONS:
10:11 Ms Martin to Mr Reed.
    Paper tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Letter, Hon Mike Reed MLA to Ms Clare Martin MLA dated 24 February 1999 (Paper 981).

    10:16 Mr Elferink to Mr Burke.
    10:21 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:28 Dr Lim to Mr Adamson.
    10:37 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:42 Mr Balch to Mr Coulter.
    10:45 Mr Stirling to Mr Burke.
    10:46 Mr Hatton to Mr Baldwin.
    10:50 Mr Rioli to Mr Palmer.
    10:53 Mr Balch to Mr Burke.
    10:55 Mr Bailey to Mrs Braham.
    10:56 Mr Mitchell to Mr Reed.
    11:01 Mr Ah Kit to Mrs Braham.
    11:02 Mr Balch to Mr Baldwin.
    11:05 Mr Stirling to Mr Baldwin.

    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
8. FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR OFFICE OF ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT –STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Aboriginal Development (Mrs Braham) made a statement in relation to the strategic directions of the Office of Aboriginal Development. (Paper 982)
    Mrs Braham moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
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    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11:57 h and 14:00 h.
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    Debate resumed.
    Question- put and passed.

9. QUARANTINE ISSUES FACING THE NORTHERN TERRITORY – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Palmer) made a statement relating to the quarantine controls and issues facing the Northern Territory (Paper 983).
    Mr Palmer moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.

10. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – INDIGENOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
    The Speaker advised that the Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne) had proposed as a definite matter of public importance this day:
      The recent actions and inactions by the Country Liberal Party administration in the carriage of indigenous education programs which have caused serious dysfunctions in Territory’s arrangements with the Commonwealth.
    The proposed discussion having received the necessary support –
    The Speaker called upon Mr Toyne to address the Assembly.
    Discussion ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for School Education (Mr Adamson) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Media release, English a high priority in bush schools, Hon Peter Adamson MLA, dated 1 December 1998 (Paper 984); and
Media release, Adamson admits mess in Aboriginal education, Mr Peter Toyne, dated 29 January 1999 (Paper 985).
    Discussion resumed.
    Discussion concluded.

11. EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 138):
    The Attorney-General (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Evidence Act.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mr Burke moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) debate was adjourned.
12. COMMUNITY WELFARE AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 147):
    The Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Community Welfare Act.
    Bill read a first time.
    Suspension of Standing Orders – Pass all Stages: Mr Dunham moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Community Welfare Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 147) 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.
    Mr Dunham moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin) debate was adjourned.

13. CHIEF MINISTER’S STATEMENT – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
    The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement –
    Debate ensued.
    The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) moved the following amendment –
    Add at the end of the motion –
      “and further notes that the Chief Minister has already breached his platitude of running open, honest and accountable government by failing to support an independent investigation into the allegations of corrupt polling practices by the Country Liberal Party Government in the 1990’s.”.
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved – That the question be now put.
    Question- That the question be now put – put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 16 NOES, 7

    Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
    Mr Balch Mr Bailey
    Mr Baldwin Mrs Hickey
    Mrs Braham Ms Martin
    Mr Burke 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

    And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
    Question – That the amendment be agreed to – put and negatived.
    Debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement continued.
    On the motion of the Member for Jingili (Mr Balch) debate was adjourned.

14. MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 1998 (Serial 129):
    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 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 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. ANNUAL REPORT (No. 32) OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 1998 – PAPER NOTED:
    The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Report –
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.
16. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
    Debate ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Industries and Business (Mr Baldwin) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Brochure, Filming in Australia’s Northern Territory (Paper 987).

    Debate continued.
    Question – put and passed.
And the Assembly adjourned at 20:06 h until 10:00 h on Thursday 25 February 1999.
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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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