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Minutes of Proceedings - 1995-10-11

Seventh Assembly First Session 10/10/1995 Parliamentary Record No. 15
__________________________________________________________________________________

Date : 11/10/1995
__________________________________________________________________________________

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. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR:
    The Speaker advised Honourable Members that he had received the following Message from His Honour the Administrator -

    Message No. 16

    I, KEITH JOHN AUSTIN ASCHE, the Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, advise the Legislative Assembly that, pursuant to section 7 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, of the Commonwealth, declare that I have given my assent to the following proposed laws:

    25 August 1995:
      Gaming Control Amendment Act 1995
    7 September 1995:
      Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 1995
    12 September 1995:
      Consumer Credit (Northern Territory) Act 1995
      Local Government Amendment Act 1995
      Local Government Amendment Act (No. 2) 1995
      Northern Territory Electoral Act 1995
      Trade Measurement Administration Amendment Act 1995
    29 September 1995:
      Associations Incorporation Amendment Act 1995
      Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Amendment Act 1995
      Sentencing Act 1995
    Dated this 4th day of October 1995.
(Sgd) AUSTIN ASCHE
Administrator.
    (Paper 1956)

    Page 377
4. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of students from the Certificate 3 in Office Administration, Faculty of Foundation Studies, Northern Territory University, and their lecturers Ms Shirlie Richardson and Mr Mike Furst.
      On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

5. NOTICE:
    The following notice was given -
      Mr Coulter: To move - That, in accordance with the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, this Assembly resolves to recommend to the Administrator that, pursuant to section 13(1), the notice of declaration of the Northern Territory portions 2818 - 2819 - 2820 - 2821 and 2822, colloquially known as the Howard Springs Forest, be revoked.
6. QUESTIONS:
    Questions were asked of Ministers.
      Papers tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Schedule, Delivery of Notice of Proposal under the Lands Acquisition Act for the proposed acquisition at East Arm (Paper 1971);
      Letter, Mr Gary Swanson, Director, Property Client Services Branch, Department of Lands, Housing and Local Government to Mr D. Pearce, Director, Northern Land Council, dated 23 September 1994 (Paper 1972); and
      Letter, Gary Swanson, Director, Property Client Services Branch, Department of Lands, Housing and Local Government to Mr Billy Risk, President, Larrakia Association Inc, dated 23 September 1994 (Paper 1973).
      Further questions were asked of Minsters.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following papers -
      Media Release, Conservation Minister, the Hon Mike Reed, MLA, dated 10 July 1992 (Paper 1974);
      Extract from Parliamentary Record, Questions, pages 1067 to 1069, dated 20 August 1992 (Paper 1975); and
      Opposition Press Release, Gary Cartwright, dated 13 July 1992 (Paper 1976).
      Further questions were asked of Ministers.

7. PROPOSED SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS - MOTION NEGATIVED:
    The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving the following motion - That this Assembly resolves to amend the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act to allow the provision of a best practice methadone maintenance program in the Northern Territory.

      Page 378

      Debate ensued.
      The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) 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, 15 NOES, 7

    Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
    Mr Baldwin Mr Bell
    Mrs Braham Mr Ede
    Mr Burke Mrs Hickey
    Mr Coulter Ms Martin
    Mr Finch Mr Rioli
    Mr Hatton Mr Stirling
    Dr Lim
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mitchell
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed
    Mr Setter
    Mr Stone

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

AYES, 7 NOES, 15

Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bell Mr Baldwin
Mr Ede Mrs Braham
Mrs Hickey Mr Burke
Ms Martin Mr Coulter
Mr Rioli Mr Finch
Mr Stirling Mr Hatton
Dr Lim
Mr Manzie
Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone

Motion negatived accordingly.

Page 379

8. PROPOSED CENSURE OF THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES - MOTION NEGATIVED:
    Suspension of Standing Orders: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving a motion to censure the Minister the Health Services regarding the non-introduction of a methadone programme.
    Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
    The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) moved - That this Assembly censures the Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) for his failure to:
      1. introduce a responsible methadone maintenance programme;

      2. protect adequately the Northern Territory community from the ravages of property crime attributable to illegal drug use; and

      3. act upon the urgent need for the development of a sensible public policy on the use of illegal drugs in the Northern Territory.
      Debate ensued.
____________________
      Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12.06 p.m. and 2.15 p.m.
____________________
      Debate resumed.
    Personal explanation: The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) made a personal explanation regarding comments that had been made by the Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey).
      Debate continued.
    Question - put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 8 NOES, 16

    Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
    Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
    Mr Bell Mrs Braham
    Mr Ede Mr Burke
    Mrs Hickey Mr Coulter
    Ms Martin Mr Finch
    Mr Rioli Mr Hatton
    Mr Stirling Dr Lim
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mitchell
    Mrs Padgham-Purich
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed
    Mr Setter
    Mr Stone

    Page 380

    Motion negatived accordingly.
9. TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF MENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH RESEARCH - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) made a statement relating to the achievements of the Menzies School of Health Research in the past ten years (Paper 1977).
      Mr Finch moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
    Question - put and passed.

10. STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 103):
    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.
    The Assembly, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee of the whole for the consideration of the Bill.
____________________

In the Committee
(Chairman - Mr Setter)
      Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
    On the motion of the Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) the following amendment was agreed to -
      Schedule
        Insert after the item relating to the Adoption of Children Act the following:
        Associations
        Incorporation
        Amendment Act 1995
        Section 3 Omit whole
        - proposed of section
        section 25AZG of the 25AZG
        Associations
        Incorporation Act
        Corporations
        (Northern Territory)
        Amendment Act 1995
        Section 19 '1994' '1995'
        - proposed
        section 75 (1) of
        the Corporations
        (Northern Territory)
        Act.

    Page 381

    Bill, as amended, agreed to.
    Bill to be reported with an amendment.
    _____________________

    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) resumed the Chair; the Chairman (Mr Setter) reported accordingly; and the report was adopted.
    On the motion of the Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

11. CONSERVATION COMMISSION AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 94) and PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 1995 (Serial 95):
    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.
    The Assembly, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee of the whole for the consideration of the Bills.
____________________

In the Committee
(Chairman - Mr Setter)
      Conservation Commission Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 94):

      Clauses 1 to 21, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
      Clause 22 read.
    On the motion of the Minister for Parks and Wildlife (Mr Coulter) the following amendment was agreed to, after debate -
      Omit from proposed section 19 all words before paragraph (a) and substitute the following:
        19. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION
        The functions of the Commission are -
        (a) to promote the conservation and protection of the natural environment of the Territory - .

    On the motion of Mr Coulter the following further amendment was agreed to -
      Omit from proposed section 19 all words after paragraph (b) and substitute the following:
        (b) the management, for a purpose approved by the Minister, of other land,

        and such other functions as are conferred on it by or under this or any other Act..

    Page 382

    Clause 22, as amended, agreed to.
    Remainder of the Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
    Bill to be reported with amendments.

    Parks and Wildlife Commission (Consequential Amendments) Bill 1995 (Serial 95):

    Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
    Bill to be reported without amendment.
    _____________________________

    The Acting Speaker (Mr Adamson) resumed the Chair; the Chairman (Mr Setter) reported that the Committee had considered the Bills and agreed to the Conservation Commission Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 94) with amendments; and the Parks and Wildlife Commission (Consequential Amendments) Bill 1995 (Serial 95) without amendment; and the reports were adopted.
    On the motion of the Minister for Parks and Wildlife (Mr Coulter) the Bills were read a third time and passed to be proposed laws.
11. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Letter, Honourable Barry Coulter, Member for Palmerston, dated 10 October 1995 (Paper 1978).

    Debate continued.
      Question - put and passed.
      The Assembly adjourned at 8.04 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
      ______________________________

      ATTENDANCE:
      All Members attended the sitting.

      Page 383
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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