Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-08-10

Eighth Assembly First Session 10/08/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 18
__________________________________________________________________________________

Date : 10/08/1999
__________________________________________________________________________________

1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00 h, pursuant to resolution of the Assembly, dated Thursday 10 June 1999.
The Speaker, the Honourable T R McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.
    3. FILMING IN THE CHAMBER:
        The Speaker advised Members that he had given permission to: Channel 8 and ABC - TV to film, with sound, and the Northern Territory News to take photographs in the Chamber today during the swearing in of the Members for Blain and Wanguri; and ABC – TV and Channel 8 to take file footage without sound during Question time this afternoon and for the Territory Network to broadcast this morning’s proceedings and Question Time this afternoon.
    4. RESIGNATIONS OF FORMER MEMBERS FOR BLAIN AND WANGURI:
        The Speaker advised Members that on 18 June 1999 he accepted the resignations of the former Member for Blain, Mr Barry Francis Coulter and the former Member for Wanguri, Mr John Derek Bailey, pursuant to section 18 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978. The Speaker Tabled their letters of resignation (Papers 1418 and 1419).
    5. RETURN TO WRIT – BLAIN AND WANGURI DIVISIONS:
        The Clerk produced and tabled the Return to Writ issued by Dr Neil Conn, AC, the Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, on 14 July 1999 for the election of one Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory for the Division of Blain and for the Division of Wanguri to fill vacancies caused by the resignations of Barry Francis Coulter and John Derek Bailey, respectively (Papers 1398 and 1399).

        By endorsement on the Writs dated 6 August 1999, it was certified that Terrence Kennedy Mills and Paul Raymond Henderson had been duly elected on 31 July 1999 as Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Divisions of Blain and Wanguri, respectively.
    6. MEMBERS SWORN:
        The Member for Blain, Mr Terrence Kennedy Mills and the Member for Wanguri, Mr Paul Raymond Henderson, were admitted to the Chamber, made and subscribed oaths of allegiance and of office and were conducted to their places (Papers 1443 and 1444).
    7. MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – HONOURABLE JAMES HENRY MUIRHEAD, AC QC – MOTION AGREED TO:
        The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) advised honourable Members of the death, on Tuesday 20 July 1999, of the Honourable James Henry Muirhead AC QC, former Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1989 to 1992.

        The Chief Minister (Mr Burke), by leave, moved - That this Assembly express its deep regret at the death of the Honourable James Henry Muirhead AC QC, Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1989 to 1992, place on record its appreciation of his long, meritorious and dedicated service to the Northern Territory, and tender its profound sympathy to his wife Margaret and family (Paper 1400).

        The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) addressed the Assembly.
        Debate ensued.
        Question – put and passed.
        Motion agreed to.

        As a mark of respect Members stood in their places for one minute, in silence.
    8. MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – SERGEANT GLEN HUITSON – MOTION AGREED TO:
        The Speaker advised Honourable Members of the death, on Tuesday 3 August 1999 of Sergeant Glen Huitson.

        The Chief Minister (Mr Burke), by leave, moved - That this Assembly, express its deep regret at the death ofSergeant Glen Huitson who was tragically killed whilst on active duty with the Northern Territory Police Force, place on record its appreciation of his valour and meritorious service to the people of the Northern Territory and extend its profound sympathy to his family, friends and fellow officers (Paper 1401).

        The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) addressed the Assembly.
        Debate ensued.
        Question – put and passed.
        Motion agreed to.

        As a mark of respect Members stood in their places for one minute, in silence.

        The Speaker advised that as a mark of respect the sittings of the Assembly would be suspended forthwith.
        ____________________

        Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11:10 h and 14:00 h.
        ____________________
    9. NOTICE:
        The following notice was given –
        Mr Reed: To present the Stamp Duty Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 166).
    10. MINISTRY AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS:
        The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) advised Members that on 4 August 1999 His Honour the Administrator made the following appointments of Minister of the Northern Territory:

        HON DENIS BURKE MLA
        Chief Minister
        Attorney-General
        Minister for the AustralAsia Railway
        Minister for Young Territorians
        Minister for Women’s Policy
        Minister for Constitutional Development

        HON MIKE REED MLA
        Deputy Chief Minister
        Treasurer
        Minister for Tourism
        Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
        Minister for Parks and Wildlife
        Minister for Territory Insurance

        HON TIM BALDWIN MLA
        Minister for Industries and Business
        Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing
        Minister for Defence Support and Regional Development
        Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment

        HON DARYL MANZIE MLA
        Minister for Asian Relations and Trade
        Minister for Resource Development
        Minister for Public Employment and Industrial Relations

        HON MICK PALMER MLA
        Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries
        Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Development
        Minister for Territory Ports

        HON STEPHEN DUNHAM MLA
        Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services
        Minister for Senior Territorians
        Minister for Essential Services

        HON PETER ADAMSON MLA
        Minister for School Education
        Minister for Tertiary Education and Training
        Minister for Corporate and Information Services
        Minister for Communications, Science and Advanced Technology
        Minister for Ethnic Affairs

        HON LORAINE BRAHAM MLA
        Minister for Local Government
        Minister for Housing
        Minister for Aboriginal Development
        Minister for Central Australia

        HON CHRISTOPHER LUGG MLA
        Minister for Sport and Recreation
        Minister for Correctional Services
        Minister for Arts and Museums

        Paper tabled: Mr Burke laid on the Table a copy of the Administrative Arrangements Order of Government published in the Northern Territory Government Gazette S 35, dated 4 August 1999 (Paper 1402).

        Mr Burke advised that the Member for Karama (Mr Palmer) was appointed to the position of Leader of Government Business, the Member for Jingili (Mr Balch) would remain as Government Whip and the Member for Millner (Mr Mitchell) as Chairman of Committees.
    11. OPPOSITION SHADOW MINISTRIES:
        The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin) advised the Assembly of the rearrangement of opposition shadow ministerial responsibilities as follows:

        CLARE MARTIN MLA
        Opposition Leader
        Treasurer
        Ethnic Affairs
        Lands, Planning and Environment
        Asian Relations & Trade
        Arts and Museums
        Statehood

        SYD STIRLING MLA
        Deputy Opposition Leader
        Attorney General
        Police, Fire and Emergency Services
        Employment
        Essential Services
        Correctional Services
        AustralAsia Railway

        PETER TOYNE MLA
        Opposition Whip
        Education and Training
        Aboriginal Affairs
        Primary Industry
        Communications and Advanced Technology
        Corporate & Information Services

        MAGGIE HICKEY MLA
        Senior Territorians
        Women’s Policy

        MAURICE RIOLI MLA
        Community Health
        Local Government
        Young Territorians
        Commercial and Recreational Fishing
        Sport and Recreation

        JOHN AH KIT MLA
        Industries and Business
        - Racing & Gaming
        - Work Health
        Regional Development
        Transport & Infrastructure Development
        Territory Ports
        Resource Development

        PAUL HENDERSON MLA
        Health, Family & Children’s Services
        Housing
        Tourism
        Parks & Wildlife
        Defence Support
    12. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES – VARIATION OF MEMBERSHIPS – MOTION AGREED TO:
        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer), by leave, moved – That –

        (1) the Member for Nelson (Mr Lugg) be discharged from further attendance on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs;

        (2) the Member for Goyder (the Honourable Terry McCarthy) and the Member for Nelson (Mr Lugg) be discharged from further attendance on the Standing Committee on Privileges;

        (3) Members be appointed to Assembly Committees as follows:

            Standing Committee on Privileges –
            Mr Stone and Mr Mills;

            Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs –
            Mrs Hickey and Mr Mills;

            Standing Orders Committee –
            Mr Ah Kit and Mr Palmer; and

            Standing Committee on Public Accounts –
            Mr Henderson and Mr Poole.

        Question – put and passed.
      13. QUESTIONS:
          14:04 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
          14:12 Mr Elferink to Mr Burke.
          14:18 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
          14:22 Mr Mitchell to Mr Reed.
          14:28 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
          14:34 Mr Balch to Mr Manzie.
          14:39 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
          14:43 Mr Stone to Mr Burke.
          Member suspended: The Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 240A, ordered the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), at 14:48 hours to withdraw from the Chamber for a period of one hour on account of disorderly conduct.

          14:51 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
          14:56 Mr Mills to Mr Dunham.
          The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
      14. PLANNING ACT, DISCUSSION DRAFT AND INFORMATION PAPER FOR A PROPOSED NEW PLANNING ACT:
          The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Baldwin) laid on the Table the following Papers –
      Planning Act, Information Paper – Discussion Draft for a proposed new N T Planning Act
      (Paper 1416); and
      Discussion Draft – Planning Act, 10 August 1999 (Paper 1415).

          Mr Baldwin made a statement relating thereto.
      15. N T EXPO 99 – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
          The Minister for Asian Relations and Trade (Mr Manzie) made a statement relating to the conduct of the N T Expo, July 99 (Paper 1417).
          Mr Manzie moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
          Debate ensued.
          Question put and passed.
      16. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 33- REPORT ON THE AUDITOR-GENERAL’S MID YEAR REPORT AND END OF FINANCIAL YEAR REPORTS 1995-96 TO 1998 – FEES, FINES AND OUTSTANDING DEBTS– PAPER NOTED:
          The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Report –
          Debate ensued.
          Question – put and passed.
      17. ADJOURNMENT:
          The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
          Debate ensued.
          Question – put and passed.
          And the Assembly adjourned at 17:04 h until 10:00 h on Wednesday 11 August 1999.
          PAPERS:
          The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Tuesday 10 August 1999:

          Regulations 1999:
          No. 20, Amendment of Justices (Territory Infringement Notices Enforcement Scheme) Regulations (Paper 1403)
          No. 21, Amendments of Pay-roll Tax Regulations (Paper 1404)
          No. 22, Amendment of Registration Regulations (Paper 1405)
          No. 23, Amendments of Motor Vehicles (Fees and Charges) Regulations (Paper 1406)
          No. 24, Amendments of Water Supply and Sewerage Regulations (Paper 1407)
          No. 25, Palmerston (Animal Management) By-laws (Paper 1408)
          No. 26, Work Health Court Rules (Paper 1409)
          No. 27, Amendment of Prisons (Correctional Services) Regulations (Paper 1410)
          No. 28, Amendment of Stock Diseases Regulations (Paper 1411)

          Financial Management Act:
          Direction - Transfer of Excess Allocations between Activities, pursuant to section 20(1)(a), Department of Education, dated 30 June 1999 (Paper 1412)
          Direction - Transfer of Excess Allocations between Activities, pursuant to section 20(1)(a), Territory Health Services, dated 30 June 1999 (Paper 1413)
          Direction - Transfer of Excess Allocations between Activities, pursuant to section 20(1)(a), Power and Water Authorities, dated 30 June 1999 (Paper 1414)
      ============================
          ATTENDANCE:
          All members attended the sitting.
      Last updated: 04 Aug 2016