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Minutes of Proceedings - 1998-04-28

Eighth Assembly First Session 28/04/1998 Parliamentary Record No. 6
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Date : 28/04/1998
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1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10.00 h. The Speaker, the Honourable L M Braham, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. FILMING IN THE CHAMBER:
    The Speaker advised Honourable Members that permission had been given to ABC Television and Channel 8 to telecast, broadcast live or rebroadcast, with sound and vision, the handing down of the Budget and the Treasurer’s speech and for 8 TOP-FM radio to broadcast live the handing down of the Budget and the Treasurer’s speech.

4. COMMEMORATION OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL:
    The Speaker advised that a document to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the First Sitting of the Legislative Council was ready for signing by Honourable Members and requested that Members sign this document this day.

5. PETITION:
The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) presented a petition, not conforming with Standing Orders, from 130 petitioners, women against kava, from the Yirrkala region of the Northern Territory (Paper 372).
    The petition was not read.

6. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given -
    Mr Poole: To present the Prisons (Correctional Services) Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 71).
    Mr Burke: To move – That this Assembly, pursuant to section 9(1) of the Health and Community Services Complaints Act, recommend to His Honour the Administrator that he appoint Peter Allen Lyle Boyce to hold the office of Commissioner for Health and Community Services Complaints until 26 March 2000, with effect from 1 June 1998.
    Mr Burke: To present the Work Health Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 67).
    Mr Stone: To present the Legislative Assembly (Security) Bill 1998 (Serial 72).
Mr Manzie: To present the Motor Accidents (Compensation) Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 73).
    Mr Reed: To present the Public Sector Employment and Management Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 69).
    Mr Adamson: To present the Gaming Control Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 70).
7. QUESTIONS:
    10:05 Mrs Hickey to Mr Poole.
    10:06 Mr Lugg to Mr Stone.
    10:09 Mr Rioli to Mrs Hickey.
    Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
Minute, Dr Neil Conn, Under-Treasurer to Treasurer, BTEC Program, dated 4 May 1990 (Paper 373).
10:15 Mr Dunham to Mr Burke.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services (Mr Burke) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Article, Australia’s Methadone Mess by Siobhan McMahon, Reader’s Digest, dated May 1998 (Paper 375).
10:19 Mr Stirling to Mr Stone.
    10:22 Mr Balch to Mr Stone.
    10:27 Mr Bailey to Mr Stone.
    Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Letter, Mr Peter Murphy, Senior Private Secretary, Office of the Chief Minister, to unnamed addressee, dated 5 March 1998 (Paper 374).
10:32 Mr Elferink to Mr Palmer.
    10:37 Mr Ah Kit to Mr Poole.
    10:40 Dr Lim to Mr Poole.
    10:47 Dr Lim to Mr Coulter.
    10:51 Mr Toyne to Mr Adamson.
    10:53 Mr McCarthy to Mr Manzie.
    10:58 Ms Martin to Mr Coulter.
    Supplementary answer: The Minister for Essential Services (Mr Poole) gave a supplementary answer to a question asked by the Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) this day.
8. MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR:
The Speaker advised Honourable Members that she had received the following Message from His Honour the Administrator:

Message No 6

    I, NEIL RAYMOND CONN, 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 the public moneys of the Territory in respect of the year ending 30 June 1999.
Dated 21 April 1998.
(Sgd) NEIL CONN
    Administrator
    (Paper 376)
9. APPROPRIATION BILL 1998-99 (Serial 68):
The Treasurer (Mr Reed), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to authorise the issuing and expending of the public moneys of the Territory in respect of the year ending 30 June 1999, the subject of His Honour the Administrator’s Message No. 6.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mr Reed moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
    Papers tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Papers –
Budget Paper No. 1 – Budget Speech and Appropriation Bill 1998-99 (Serial 68) (Paper 378);
Budget Paper No. 2 – The Budget 1998-99 (Paper 379);
Budget Paper No. 3 – Issues in Public Finance 1998-99 (Paper 380);
Budget Paper No. 4 – Capital Works Program 1998-99 (Paper 381);
Budget Paper No. 5 – Northern Territory Economy 1998-99 (Paper 382);
Women in the Budget 1998-99 (Paper 377);
Regional Highlights, Darwin 1998-99 (Paper 383);
Regional Highlights, Palmerston and Rural 1998-99 (Paper 384);
Regional Highlights, Katherine 1998-99 (Paper 385);
Regional Highlights, Arnhem and Tiwi Islands 1998-99 (Paper 386);
Regional Highlights, Tennant Creek 1998-99 (Paper 387);
Regional Highlights, Alice Springs 1998-99 (Paper 388); and
Budget Overview 1998-99 (Paper 389).

    On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) debate was adjourned.


10. VISITORS:
The Speaker (Mrs Braham) drew attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 7 students from Jingili Primary School and their teacher, Ms Sue Mihailou.
    On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
11. STATUS OF THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Palmer) made a statement relating to the current status of the agricultural industry in the Northern Territory and future opportunities that will arise in the industry (Paper 390).
    Mr Palmer moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    ____________________
Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12:05 h and 14:18 h.
    ____________________
Debate resumed.
    Question put and passed.
12. OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
The Minister for Resource Development (Mr Poole) made a statement regarding oil and gas exploration and development in the Timor Sea. (Paper 391).
Mr Poole moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Papers tabled: Mr Poole laid on the table the following papers -
Report, Prospects for Timor Sea Gas in the Australian Market by ACIL Economics Policy Ltd. (Paper 393); and
Brochure, Northern Australia Oil and Gas Task Force, the Vision (Paper 392).

    Debate ensued.
    Question put and passed.
13. REAL PROPERTY (UNIT TITLES) AMENDMENT BILL 1998 (Serial 62):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass all stages: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter), at the request of and on behalf of the Attorney-General (Mr Stone) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Real Property (Unit Titles) Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 62) passing through all stages at these sittings.
    Question - put and passed – there being an absolute majority of the whole numbers of Members present and no dissentient voice.
    The Order of the Day having been read for resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be 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 Attorney-General (Mr Stone) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
14. POWER AND WATER AUTHORITY AMENDMENT BILL 1998 (Serial 63):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass all stages: The Minister for Essential Services (Mr Poole) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Power and Water Authority Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 63) passing through all stages at these sittings.
    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 resumption of debate on the question – That the Bill be read a second time.
Debate resumed.
    Paper tabled: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Administration Maxims (For All Public Officers Associated with Northern Territory Administration), ca 1937 (Paper 394).
    Debate continued.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Essential Services (Mr Poole) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Explanatory memorandum, Power and Water Authority Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 63) (Paper 395).
    Debate continued.
Question – put and passed.
Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
    On the motion of the Minister for Essential Services (Mr Poole) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

15. KAVA MANAGEMENT BILL 1998 (Serial 64); and POLICE ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL 1998 (Serial 65):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass all Stages: Mr Burke moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Kava Management Bill 1998 (Serial 64) and Police Administration Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 65) passing through all stages at these sittings.
    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 debate on the question – That the Bills be now read a second time -
Debate resumed.
    Question - put and passed.
    Bills read a second time.
    The Assembly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole.
    ____________________

In the Committee
(Chairman - Mr Mitchell)
    Kava Management Bill 1998 (Serial 64):
    Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
    On the motion of the Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services (Mr Burke) the following amendments were agreed to, after debate –
In Clause 85 –
        Omit subclause (1) and insert in its stead the following:
“(1) The Chief Health Officer may in writing, and subject to the conditions he or she thinks fit, authorise a person to possess, cultivate, manufacture or produce kava for the purposes of medical or scientific research.”; and
Omit from subclause (2) “or ceremonial use”.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
    Bill to be reported with amendments.
Police Administration Amendment Bill 1998 (Serial 65):
    Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
    Bill to be reported without amendment.
    _____________________________

The Speaker (Mrs Braham) resumed the Chair; the Chairman (Mr Mitchell) reported accordingly and the reports were adopted.
    The Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services (Mr Burke) moved – That the Bills be now read a third time.
Debate ensued.
    Question - put and passed.
    The Bills were read a third time and passed to be proposed laws.

16. GAS PIPELINES ACCESS (NORTHERN TERRITORY) BILL 1998 (Serial 66):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass all Stages: The Minister for Essential Services (Mr Poole) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Gas Pipelines Access (Northern Territory) Bill 1998 (Serial 66) passing through all stages at these sittings.
    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 debate on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time -
Debate ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Minister for Resource Development and Essential Services (Mr Poole) tabled the following Papers -
Explanatory memorandum, Gas Pipelines Access (Northern Territory) Bill 1998 (Serial 66) (Paper 396).
    Debate continued.
      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 Essential Services (Mr Poole) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

    17. ADJOURNMENT:
      The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      Question – put and passed.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 19:46 h until 10:00 h on Wednesday 29 April 1998.
    ======================

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