Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-10-13

Eighth Assembly First Session 12/10/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 19
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Date : 13/10/1999
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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. PETITIONS:
    No. 33 - The Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne) presented a petition from 72 petitioners requesting government maintenance of bilingual programs in Northern Territory schools (Paper 1509).
    Petition read.
      No. 32 - The Member for Barkly (Mrs Hickey) presented a petition from 4076 petitioners requesting the Assembly to alter the proposed new Planning Act to correct anomalies and ensure Territorians have the same democratic rights as other Australians (Paper 1510).
      The Chief Minister (Mr Burke), by leave, made a statement relating thereto.
    Petition read.
4. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given –
    Mr Burke: To present the Sale of Goods Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 182).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Northern Territory Licensing Commission Bill 1999 (Serial 183).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Gaming Control Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 184).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Gaming Machine Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 185).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Kava Management Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 186).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Liquor Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 187).
    Mr Baldwin: To Present the Private Security Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 188).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Racing and Gaming Authority Act Repeal Bill 1999 (Serial 190).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Work Health Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 189).
5. QUESTIONS:
    10:09 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:15 Mr Elferink to Mr Burke.
    10:25 Mr Henderson to Mr Lugg.
    10:26 Mr Stone to Mr Reed.
    10:34 Mr Toyne to Mr Adamson.
    10:37 Mr Hatton to Mr Manzie.
    10:42 Mr Henderson to Mr Dunham.
    10:45 Dr Lim to Mr Adamson.
    10:50 Mr Stirling to Mr Reed.
    10:57 Mr Mitchell to Mrs Braham.

    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.

    Answers to Questions:
    Mr Adamson provided further information to a question asked of him earlier this day by Mr Toyne relating to truancy.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Education (Mr Adamson ) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Extract of Appropriation Bill 1998/99 (Serial 68), Debates, Parliamentary Record of 18 June 1998, Mr Toyne (Paper 1511).
    Mr Lugg provided further information in answer to a question asked earlier this day by Mr Toyne relating to youth vandalism.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Sport and Recreation (Mr Lugg) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Transcript of interview between Robbie Fletcher (coordinator of the Shack), 13 October 1999, 8.30 AM 8DDD FM Morning Program (Paper 1512).
    6. CRIME PREVENTION UNIT – MOTION NEGATIVED:
      The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), pursuant to notice, moved that -
      The Northern Territory Government –
        (a) adopt a whole of government approach aimed at the reduction and prevention of crime in the Territory; and

        (b) immediately establish a crime prevention unit located within the Chief Minister’s department to carry out this task (Paper 1513).

      Debate ensued.
      The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) 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, 17 NOES, 7

      Mr Adamson Mr Ah Kit
      Mr Balch Mr Henderson
      Mr Baldwin Mrs Hickey
      Mrs Braham Ms Martin
      Mr Burke Mr Rioli
      Mr Dunham Mr Stirling
      Mr Elferink Mr Toyne
      Mr Hatton
      Dr Lim
      Mr Lugg
      Mr Manzie
      Mr Mills
      Mr Mitchell
      Mr Palmer
      Mr Poole
      Mr Reed
      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, 17

      Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
      Mrs Hickey Mr Balch
      Mr Henderson Mr Baldwin
      Ms Martin Mrs Braham
      Mr Rioli Mr Burke
      Mr Stirling Mr Dunham
      Mr Toyne Mr Elferink
      Mr Hatton
      Dr Lim
      Mr Lugg
      Mr Manzie
      Mr Mills
      Mr Mitchell
      Mr Palmer
      Mr Poole
      Mr Reed
      Mr Stone

      And so it was resolved in the negative.
      Motion negatived accordingly.
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      Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11:53 h and 14:00 h.
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    7. PROPOSED AUSTRALIAN REPUBLIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES – MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
      The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin), pursuant to notice, moved that –
      The Northern Territory Parliament believes -
        (a) Australia must have an Australian Head of State; and

        (b) the Australian Constitution should be amended to establish Australia as a republic (Paper 1518).
      Debate ensued.
      The Treasurer (Mr Reed) moved the following amendment –
      Omit all words after “Parliament” and insert in their stead –

        “(a) encourages all Territorians to have their say in the forthcoming referendum on the republic;

        (b) believes such constitutional changes are a matter for individual decision and not ones to be imposed by politicians; and

        (c) deplores the fact that the votes of Territorians will not have equal value to the votes of their fellow Australians because of the present constitutional arrangements.”. (Paper 1519)

      Debate continued.
      Amendment agreed to.
      Motion, as amended, agreed to.
    8. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 178); and DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 179):
      Suspension of Standing Orders: The Member for Barkly (Mrs Hickey) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent two Bills, namely the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 178) and the Director of Public Prosecutions Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 179) –
        (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.
      Mrs Hickey, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Domestic Violence Act; and a Bill for an Act to amend the Director of Public Prosecutions Act.
      Bills read a first time
      Mrs Hickey moved – That the Bills be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Chief Minister (Mr Burke) debate was adjourned.
    9. ADJOURNMENT:
      The Treasurer (Mr Reed) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      Paper tabled: The Member for Greatorex (Dr Lim), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Advertisement for Sorriento Restaurant, Alice Springs – Centralian Advocate, Friday, 28 October 1959 (Paper 1521).

      Debate continued.
      Paper tabled: The Member for Jingili (Mr Balch), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Report on Visit to Sri Lanka in conjunction with Northern Territory Rugby Union Tour, September 1999 by Steve Balch (Paper 1522).
        Debate continued.
        Question – put and passed.
        And the Assembly adjourned at 17:56 h until 10:00 h on Thursday 14 October 1999.
          PAPERS:
          The following Papers were deemed to be presented on Wednesday 13 October 1999 –

          Annual Report
          Northern Territory Grants Commission 1998/99 (Paper 1520)

          By-Laws:
          Tipperary Waters By-Laws (Paper 1514)

          Regulations 1999:
          No. 29, Amendments of Port By-Laws (Paper 1515)
          No. 30, Amendments of Domestic Violence Regulations (Paper 1516)
          No. 31, Amendments of Taxation (Administration) Regulations (Paper 1517)

          ATTENDANCE:
          All Members attended the sitting.
        Last updated: 04 Aug 2016