Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1995-02-28

Seventh Assembly First Session 28/02/1995 Parliamentary Record No. 9
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Date : 28/02/1995
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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. MESSAGES FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR:
    The Speaker laid on the Table the following Messages from His Honour the Administrator:
    Message No. 9
    I. KEITH JOHN AUSTIN ASCHE, the Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, in pursuance of section 11 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the Commonwealth, recommend to the Legislative Assembly a Bill for an Act to authorise the issuing and expending of public moneys of the Territory in respect of the year ending 30 June 1995.
    Dated 27th day of February 1995.
(Sgd) AUSTIN ASCHE
Administrator.
    (Paper 438)

    Message No. 10

    I, KEITH JOHN AUSTIN ASCHE, the Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, in pursuance of section 11 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the Commonwealth, recommend to the Legislative Assembly a Bill for an Act entitled the Financial Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995, which in part, provides a particular formula for the allocation of public moneys of the Territory, consequential on the passing of the Financial Management Act 1995.

    Dated 27th day of February 1995.
(Sgd) AUSTIN ASCHE
Administrator.
    (Paper 439)

4. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of Year 7 students from the Manunda Terrace Primary School.
5. PETITIONS:
    The Member for Palmerston (Mr Coulter) presented a petition from 120 petitioners requesting the Assembly refer the proposed Bill, entitled Rights of the Terminally Ill, to a Select Committee in order that the Committee may consult with members of the Northern Territory community and report back to the Assembly (Paper 440).
    The Member for Katherine (Mr Reed) presented a petition from 21 petitioners requesting the Assembly refer the proposed Bill, entitled Rights of the Terminally Ill, to a Select Committee in order that the Committee may consult with members of the Northern Territory community and report back to the Assembly (Paper 441).
    The Member for Stuart (Mr Ede) presented a petition from 5 petitioners requesting the Assembly refer the proposed Bill, entitled Rights of the Terminally Ill, to a Select Committee in order that the Committee may consult with members of the Northern Territory community and report back to the Assembly (Paper 442).
    The Member for Arafura (Mr Rioli) presented a petition from 80 petitioners requesting the Assembly refer the proposed Bill, entitled Rights of the Terminally Ill, to a Select Committee in order that the Committee may consult with members of the Northern Territory community and report back to the Assembly (Paper 443).

    The Member for Braitling (Mrs Braham) presented a petition from 15 petitioners requesting the Assembly refer the proposed Bill, entitled Rights of the Terminally Ill, to a Select Committee in order that the Committee may consult with members of the Northern Territory community and report back to the Assembly (Paper 444).

6. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given:
      Mr Coulter: To present the Racing and Betting Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 76).
      Mr Perron: To present the Ombudsman (Northern Territory) Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 75).
    Mr Hatton: To present the Lands Acquisition Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 63).
    Mr Hatton: To present the Pastoral Land Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 64).
    Mr Finch: To present the Agents Licensing Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 74).
7. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
    The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave and pursuant to Standing Order 54, made a personal explanation relating to comments he made during debate last week on licensing security staff at nightclubs and hotels.
8. QUESTIONS:
Questions were asked of Ministers.

9. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
    The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), by leave, made a personal explanation relating to comments made by the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) during Question Time this day regarding a speech Mr Burke made previously during debate on domestic violence.
10. LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
    The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) moved - That leave of absence be granted to the Member for Arnhem (Mr Lanhupuy) for today on account of ill health.
      Question - put and passed.
11. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
    The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, made a personal explanation relating to comments made by the Minister for Industries and Development (Mr Stone) during Question Time this day.

12. MEETING OF STATE PREMIERS AND CHIEF MINISTERS - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Perron) made a Statement relating to the meeting of Premiers and Chief Ministers in Adelaide on 24 February 1995 (Paper 445).
    Paper tabled: Mr Perron laid on the Table the following Paper -
      • Communique, Leaders’ Forum, 24 February 1995, Adelaide (Paper 447).

      Mr Perron moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

      • Agenda, Meeting of State and Territory Leaders in Adelaide 9.30 a.m to 3.00 p.m, 24 February 1995 (Paper 448).

      Debate continued.
      Paper tabled: Mr Perron laid on the Table the following Paper -

      • Agenda, Leaders’ Forum, Adelaide, 9.30 a.m to 3.00 p.m, Friday, 24 February 1995 (Paper 449).

      Question - put and passed.

13. SESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT - VARIATION OF MEMBERSHIP - MOTION AGREED TO:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stone) moved - That the Member for Arafura (Mr Rioli) be discharged from further attendance on the Sessional Committee on Constitutional Development and the Member for Arnhem (Mr Lanhupuy) be appointed as a member of that Committee in his stead.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
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    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12.11 p.m. and 2.15 p.m.
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14. 1995 OUTLOOK FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Palmer) made a Statement relating to the outlook for the Northern Territory’s primary industries during 1995 (Paper 446).
      Mr Palmer moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
15. PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOUSING IN NON-URBAN AREAS - MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE:
    The Speaker informed the Assembly that the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) had proposed the following definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion this day:
      “the inadequate provision of public housing services in non-urban regions of the Northern Territory.”
    The proposed discussion having received the necessary support -
      The Speaker called on Mr Stirling to address the Assembly.
      Discussion ensued.
      Papers tabled: Mr Stirling, by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -

      • Graph, Figure 2.25, ‘Unmet’ housing need by regional council (per cent), Australia (Paper 450);

      • Graph, Figure 2.24, Total bedroom need by regional council, Australia (Paper 451);and

      • “A Review of Australia’s Efforts to Promote and Protect Human Rights”, Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, dated November 1994 (Paper 452).

      Discussion continued.
      Discussion concluded.

16. AUDIT BILL 1994 (Serial 52):
    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.
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In the Committee
(Chairman - Mr Setter)
      Clauses 1 and 2, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
      Clause 3 read.
    On the motion of the Chief Minister (Mr Perron) the following amendment was agreed to -
        Omit from the definition of “authorised auditor” the words “section 16” and insert in their stead “section 17”.
    Clause 3, as amended, agreed to.
    Clause 4 agreed to.
    Clause 5 read.
    On the motion of Mr Perron the following amendment was agreed to, after debate -
        Omit “and the Public Account is appropriated accordingly” and insert in its stead “and the Allocation for that purpose is hereby established or increased to the extent necessary”.
    Clause 5, as amended, agreed to.
    Clauses 6 to 14, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
    Clause 15 read.
    The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) moved the following amendment -
        Insert after clause 15 (2) the following:

“ (2A) An audit under this section shall be conducted once every 3 years.”.
    Amendment negatived, after debate.
    On the motion of Mr Perron the following amendment was agreed to, after debate -
      Omit from subclause (3) “the organisation” (first occurring) and insert in its stead “the Agency or organisation”.
    Clause 15, as amended, agreed to.
    Clauses 16 to 23, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
    Clause 24 read.
    Mr Ede moved the following amendment -
        Omit from clause 24 (4) (b) “, in an agreed form,”.
    Amendment negatived, after debate.
    Clause 24 agreed to.
    Clauses 25 and 26, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
    Clause 27 read.
    Mr Ede moved the following amendment -
        Insert after clause 27 (1) the following:
      “ (1A) Every audit under subsection (1) shall be performed at such times as the Administrator thinks fit but in any case not less than once in each year.”.
    Mr Perron, by leave, moved the following amendment to the amendment -
      Omit the words “at such times as the Administrator thinks fit but in any case”.
    Amendment to the amendment agreed to.
    Amendment, as amended, agreed to.
    Clause 27, as amended, agreed to.
    Clause 28 read.
    Mr Ede, by leave, moved the following amendments together -

    Omit from clause 28 (1) “, at his or her discretion,” ;and
        Insert after clause 28 (1) (b) the following: “(c) at his or her discretion.”.
    Debate ensued.
    Amendments, by leave withdrawn.
    Clause 28 agreed to.
    Remainder of the Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to, after debate.
    Bill to reported with amendments.
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    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) resumed the Chair; the Chairman (Mr Setter) reported accordingly; and the report was adopted.
    On the motion of the Chief Minister (Mr Perron) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

17. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stone) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Education and Training (Mr Finch) laid on the Table the following Papers -
      • Media Release, Offers of scholarships to Territorians undertaking higher education or TAFE studies, dated 13 February 1995 (Paper 453); and

      • Northern Territory Board of Studies, Presentation Ceremony, 8 February 1995 (Paper 454).

    Debate continued.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Lands, Housing and Local Government (Mr Hatton) laid on the Table the following Papers -
      • News Release, Palmerston Town Council “Council calls on the Minister for Action”, dated 28 February 1995 (Paper 455);

      • Paper - “Palmerston’s Central Business District - The Woolworths Development” (Paper 456);

      • Newspaper Article “Shopping centre rezoning refused”, Northern Territory News, dated 14 December 1994 (Paper 457);

      • News report on Northern Territory Planning Authority opposition to the Woolworths Supermarket’s application for rezoning Lot 1219, Palmerston and Beyond column, Northern Territory News, dated 2 February 1995 (Paper 458); and

      • Newspaper Article “2nd Large Supermarket for Palmerston”, Palmerston Post, Volume 4, dated February 1995 (Paper 459).
    Debate continued.
      Question - put and passed.
      The Assembly adjourned at 9. 33 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
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      ATTENDANCE:
      All Members attended the sitting except Mr Lanhupuy, on leave.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016