Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2000-03-01

Eighth Assembly First Session 22/02/2000 Parliamentary Record No. 21
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Date : 01/03/2000
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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. VISITORS:
    The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public galleries of Year 6/7 students from Wulagi Primary School accompanied by their teacher Ms Margaret McPherson.
    On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
4. QUESTIONS:
    10:01 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    Paper tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) laid on the Table the following Paper –
E-Mail from Bradd Linsley, dated 29 February 2000 re mandatory sentencing (Paper 1725).
    10:03 Mr Balch to Mr Burke.
    10:11 Ms Martin to Mr Reed.
    10:17 Dr Lim to Mr Baldwin.
    10:24 Mr Stirling to Mr Reed.
    10:32 Mr Mills to Mr Reed.
    10:36 Mr Henderson to Mr Reed.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Henderson), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Payslip, dated 14 January 2000 (Paper 1726).
    10:43 Mr Hatton to Mr Dunham.
    10:51 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    11:02 Mr Elferink to Mr Baldwin.
    11:08 Mr Stirling to Mr Reed.

    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
5. EAST TIMOR, RAMIFICATION FOR THE TERRITORY – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) made a statement relating to the situation in East Timor and its effects on the Territory (Paper 1727).
    Mr Burke moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
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    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11:50 h and 14:00 h.
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    Debate resumed.
    Question – put and passed.

6. NORTHERN TERRITORY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Resource Development (Mr Manzie) made a statement relating to the status of resource development as a building block to expansion of the economic base in the Territory (Paper 1728).
    Mr Manzie moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
    Question – put and passed.

7. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – LABOUR MARKET:
    The Speaker advised that the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) had proposed as a definite matter of public importance for discussion this day:
      The failure of the CLP to address structural problems in the Northern Territory Labour Market.
    The proposed discussion having received the necessary support –
    The Speaker called upon Mr Stirling to address the Assembly.
    Discussion ensued.
    Papers tabled: The Deputy Chief Minister (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Article, 30 New Jobs when store opens in July, Northern Territory News, Thursday 24 February 2000 (Paper 1729);
Article, 6000 New Jobs, Northern Territory News, 25 October 1999 (Paper 1730);
Article, N T Jobless remains Aussie lowest, Northern Territory News, 12 November 1999 (Paper 1731); and
Article, Work Starts on $18m Block, Northern Territory News, 26 February 2000 (Paper 1732).

    Discussion resumed.
    Discussion concluded.

8. MANDATORY SENTENCING REPEAL BILL 2000 (Serial 216):
    The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to repeal or amend various Acts establishing mandatory sentencing in the Territory and for related purposes.
    Bill read a first time.
    Ms Martin moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Chief Minister (Mr Burke) debate was adjourned.
9. RETAIL TENANCIES BILL 2000 (Serial 218):
    The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Martin), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to make provision in relation to leases of certain retail shops, the rights and obligations of lessors and lessees of those shops and for other purposes.
    Bill read a first time.
    Ms Martin moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Baldwin) debate was adjourned.
10. MINE MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2000 (Serial 225):
    The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Mine Management Act.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mr Stirling moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Minister for Resource Development (Mr Manzie) debate was adjourned.
11.REGISTRATION OF TEACHERS BILL 2000 (Serial 223):
    The Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for the registration of teachers in the Territory, and for related purposes.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mr Toyne moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Member for Jingili (Mr Balch) debate was adjourned.
12.EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL 2000 (Serial 224):
    The Member for Stuart (Mr Toyne), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Education Act.
    Bill read a first time.
    Mr Toyne moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
    On the motion of the Member for Jingili (Mr Balch) debate was adjourned.
13. MISLEADING OF ASSEMBLY BY CHIEF MINISTER – MOTION NEGATIVED:
    The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), pursuant to notice, moved – That the matter of the Chief Minister’s misleading answers to questions on 25th February and 29 February 2000 be referred to the Committee of Privileges (Paper 1733).
    Debate ensued.
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That the question be now put.
    Question – That the question be now put – put.
    Question - put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 13 NOES, 7

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

    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, 14

    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 Dr Lim
    Mr McCarthy
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mills
    Mr Mitchell
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed

    Motion negatived accordingly.
14. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 178) and DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Serial 179):
    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 ensued.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
Womens Fellowship 1995 – Office of Womens’ Affairs assessment report and evaluation of programs in the United States re programs towards Domestic/Family Violence (Paper 1735); and
Domestic Violence It’s a Crime, The Territory Breaks the Silence (Paper 1736).

    Debate continued.
    Question – That the Bills be now read a second time - put and negatived.
15. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
    Debate ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Casuarina (Mr Adamson) laid on the Table the following Paper –
Letter, Darwin Rugby League Inc to Honourable Peter Adamson re Chico Motlop (Paper 1737).
    Question –put and passed.
    And the Assembly adjourned at 20:38 h until 10:00 h on Thursday 2 March 2000.

    PAPERS TABLED:
    The following paper was deemed to have been presented on Wednesday 1 March 2000:

    Remuneration Tribunal:
    Report to the Legislative Assembly pursuant to section 9.1(e) of the Remuneration Tribunal by Honourable M Reed (Paper 1734)
    ATTENDANCE:
    All Members attended the sitting.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016