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Minutes of Proceedings - 1996-02-22

Seventh Assembly First Session 20/02/1996 Parliamentary Record No. 19
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Date : 22/02/1996
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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. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of Year 7 students from Gray Primary School and their teacher, Ms Sue Trimble; and Year 11 Legal Studies students from St Johns College and their teacher, Mr Stephen Meara.
      On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

4. QUESTIONS:
    Questions were asked of Ministers.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Arafura (Mr Rioli), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Education Bulletin, Issue No. 3/96, Northern Territory Department of Education, dated 16 February 1996 (Paper 2224); and
      Advertisement, Who are the real victims of the Teachers Union industrial action? The Kids, NT News, dated 17 February 1996 (Paper 2225).
      Further questions were asked of Ministers.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Circular 96/03, Michael Fong, Secretary, Department of Education to All Staff, dated 13 February 1996 (Paper 2227).
      Further questions were asked of Ministers.

5. PROPOSED CENSURE OF MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING - MOTION NEGATIVED:
    Suspension of Standing Orders - Move motion to Censure the Minister for Education and Training: The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving a motion of censure of the Minister for Education and Training.
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) informed the Assembly that the Government, pursuant to Standing Order 95, accepted the notice of motion as a censure motion.
      The Member for Nhulunbuy thereupon moved - That this Assembly -
        censures the Minister for Education for:
        (1) his failure to uphold the quality of education in the Northern Territory;
        (2) his deliberate tactic to use Territory students as pawns in his campaign to denigrate Territory teachers;
        (3) his unprofessional conduct in withdrawing current offers and his inability and refusal to negotiate a fair settlement; and
        (4) his failure to provide fair employment conditions for the Territorys professional and hard working Teaching Service, reflected in a separate enterprising bargaining agreement.
      Debate ensued.
    Leave denied: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) moved - That the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) be granted an extension of time.
      Objection being raised - leave denied.
      Debate continued.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Education and Training (Mr Hatton) laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Table, Teacher Salary Comparison - Projected as at 31 December 1996, prepared by HRM Branch, dated 20 February 1996 (Paper 2228);
      Table, Teacher Salary Comparison - Projected as at 31 December 1997, prepared by HRM Branch, dated 20 February 1996 (Paper 2229); and
      Selection from Registered Award Restructuring Agreement, 1991 (Paper 2230).
      Debate continued.
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      Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12.03 p.m. and 2.15 p.m.
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      Debate resumed.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Letter, David Moncrieff, President, Northern Territory Council of Government School Organisations to School Council Chairpersons, dated 15 February 1996 (Paper 2231); and
      List of questions and answers (Paper 2232).
      Debate continued.
      The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) moved - That the question be now put.
      Question - That the question be now put - put and passed.
      Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.

      The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T.R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

AYES, 8 NOES, 15

Mr Ah Kit Mr Adamson
Mr Bailey Mr Baldwin
Mr Bell Mrs Braham
Mr Ede Mr Burke
Mrs Hickey Mr Coulter
Ms Martin Mr Finch
Mr Rioli Mr Hatton
Mr Stirling Dr Lim
Mr Manzie
Mr Mitchell
Mr Palmer
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
      Motion negatived accordingly.

6. HOUSING IN JABIRU - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Housing (Mr Manzie) made a Statement relating to housing problems in Jabiru (Paper 2226).
      Mr Manzie moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Press Release, Good News for Jabiru, Australian Labor Party, dated 12 February 1996 (Paper 2233); and
      Article, Housing shortage causes concern, Jabiru Rag, dated 11 January 1996 (Paper 2234).
      Debate continued.
    Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Letter, Hon Warren Snowdon, MHR to Mr David Norton, Chairman, Jabiru Town Council, dated 22 February 1996 (Paper 2235).
      Debate continued.
      Question - put and passed.

7. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
    The Member for Victoria River (Mr Baldwin) moved - That intervening business be postponed until after consideration of General Business, Notice No. 2, standing in his name.
      Question - put and passed.

8. PROGRESS REPORT ON THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTERACTIVE TELEVISION GAMING - MOTION, AGREED TO:
    The Chairman of the Select Committee on Interactive Television Gaming (Mr Baldwin) moved - That -
      If the Assembly is not sitting when the Select Committee on Interactive Television Gaming has prepared its Report for presentation, the Committee may provide the Report to the Speaker or, if the Speaker is unable to act, to the Deputy Speaker, and in that event -
      (1) the Report of the Select Committee on Interactive Television Gaming shall be deemed to have been presented to the Assembly;
      (2) the publication of the Report is authorised by this Resolution;
      (3) the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker, as the case may be, may give directions for the printing and circulation of the Report; and
      (4) the Speaker shall lay the Report upon the Table at the next sitting of the Assembly.
      Question - put and passed.

9. FIRE AND EMERGENCY BILL 1996 (Serial 140); and FIRE AND EMERGENCY (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 1996 (Serial 141):
    Suspension of Standing Orders - Take two Bills together: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent two Bills, namely the Fire and Emergency Bill 1996 (Serial 140) and the Fire and Emergency (Consequential Amendments) Bill 1996 (Serial 141) -
      (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 the Committee of the Whole.

    Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
    Mr Coulter, at the request of and on behalf of the Chief Minister (Mr Stone), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, the operational and emergency response activities of the Service, the protection of life, property and the environment against fires and other emergencies and for related purposes; and a Bill for an Act to amend various Acts on the passing of the Fire and Emergency Act 1996.
      Bills read a first time.
      Mr Coulter moved - That the Bills be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) debate was adjourned.
10. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 3) 1995 (Serial 113):
    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
(Deputy Chairman - Mr Adamson)
      Bill, by leave, taken as whole.
      Debate ensued.
      The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) ,by leave, moved the following amendment -
      In proposed new clause 125A(1), add at the end of paragraph (a), in the definition of indecent article the words and/or.
      Amendment agreed to.
      Mr Bell, by leave, moved the following further amendment -
      In proposed new clause 125A(1), add at the end of the definition of indecent article the words or (c) child pornography.
      Amendment agreed to.
      Bill, as amended, agreed to.
      Bill to be reported with amendments.
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    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) resumed the Chair; the Deputy Chairman (Mr Adamson) reported accordingly; and the report was adopted.
    On the motion of the Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

11. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 6) 1995 (Serial 131):
    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, agreed to, after debate.
      Clause 4, agreed to, after debate.
      Title agreed to.
      Bill to be reported without an amendment.
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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 Attorney-General (Mr Hatton) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

12. RESPONSE TO QUESTION - PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MR NICK DONDAS - STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
    The Speaker made a statement referring to a question asked by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) during Question Time on Tuesday 20 February 1996 regarding the 1993 return made by the former Member for Casuarina, Mr Dondas, pursuant to the Legislative Assembly (Register of Members Interests) Act.
      Paper tabled: The Speaker laid on the Table the following Paper -

      Letter, Mr Nick Dondas to the Hon Terence McCarthy, MLA, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, dated 22 February 1996 (Paper 2237).

13. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Press Release, - Measures Table - Labors 1996 Federal Election Campaign Launch (Paper 2238).
      Debate continued.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Victoria River (Mr Baldwin), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Report pursuant to Clause 7.1(d) of the Remuneration Tribunal Determination No. 1 of 1995, Overseas Parliamentary Study Leave (Paper 2239).
      Question - put and passed.
    And the Assembly adjourned at 8.18 p.m. until Tuesday 27 February 1996 at 10.00 a.m.
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    PAPER:
    The following Paper was deemed to have been presented on Thursday 22 February 1996:
    Gaming Control Act:
    Casino Operators Agreement, between Barry Francis Coulter and Ford Dynasty Pty Ltd (A. C. N. 009 631 029), dated 29 January 1996 (Paper 2236).
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    ATTENDANCE:
    All Members attended the sitting.
    Ian McNeill
    Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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