Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1996-08-20

Seventh Assembly First Session 20/08/1996 Parliamentary Record No. 24
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Date : 20/08/1996
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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. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the Honourable Ian Armstrong, OBE, MP, Leader of the National Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, State Development and the Olympics.
    On behalf of Honourable Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitor.

4. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of Year 11 Legal Studies students from the Casuarina Secondary College and their teacher, Mr Peter Tibbets.
      On behalf of Honourable Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

5. PETITIONS:
    The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) presented a petition from 18 petitioners requesting the Assembly repeal the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act, or to suspend its operation, in light of the strong negative reaction to its implementation within certain Aboriginal communities (Paper 2593).
      Petition read.
    The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) presented a petition from 427 petitioners requesting the Assembly facilitate meaningful negotiations with Northern Territory teachers with a view to resolving the teachers' dispute (Paper 2594).
      Petition read.

6. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given:
      Mr Burke: To present the Sentencing Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 176).
      Mr Poole (Araluen): To present on the next General Business day the Rights of the Terminally Ill Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 174).
      Mrs Hickey: To move - That this Assembly -
              (1) expresses its dismay and outrage at the Commonwealth Government’s cuts to programmes and jobs in regional Australia; and
              (2) in particular, condemns the cuts to programmes and jobs in the Northern Territory.


      Ms Martin: To move - That this Assembly-
              (1) pursuant to paragraph 2(d)(i) of Standing Order 21A, refers the following matters relating to the costs involved with the planning, design and construction of the Alice Springs Gaol to the Public Accounts Committee for inquiry and report:
                  (a) the initial design and contractual arrangements for the construction of the Alice Springs Gaol;
                  (b) amendments to the design throughout the period of the project;
                  (c) the escalation of costs associated with the project; and
                  (d) any other matters ancillary to the above which would determine whether all or part of the cost overruns could have been averted; and
              (2) directs the Public Accounts Committee to further examine all expenditure at the Alice Springs Gaol from the 1989-90 financial year to the end of the 1995-96 financial year which relates to the purchase of the following items:
                  (a) building and furnishing materials, including, but not limited to, carpets, lounge suites and other furniture;
                  (b) provisions for prisoners, including, but not limited to, tobacco and meat supplies;
                  (c) provisions for the prison industries, including, but not limited to, spare parts and other mechanical materials;
                  (d) materials for prison officers, for example, torches; and
                  (e) any other materials ancillary to the above which would determine whether expenditure on those materials has been justified or whether over-expenditure on these materials has occurred.

      Mr Stirling (Nhulunbuy): To present on the next General Business day the Long Service Leave Amendment Bill 1996 (Serial 178).
7. MEMBERS’ CONDUCT DURING QUESTION TIME - STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
    The Speaker advised Members that he had received numerous complaints regarding the conduct of Members during Question Time. The Speaker addressed Members as follows:
      “Honourable Members, in recent times and, in particular, during the last week of Sittings, I received a number of complaints from members of the public relating to the disorderly conduct of Members during Question Time. The complaints referred primarily to the increased volume of interjections and the apparent disregard for the authority of the Chair.
      In addition, this type of interjection is causing difficulties for Hansard staff in transcribing and editing debates.

      I am concerned that such behaviour degrades the status of the Parliament in the opinion of the public and inform Honourable Members that, while I do not intend to inhibit any freedom of speech during debate, I urge Members to exercise decorous behaviour and to maintain moderate language in the Chamber, particularly during Question Time.”.
8. QUESTIONS:
    Questions were asked of Ministers.
    Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Business Names Extract - Northern Territory - Territory Surgical Supplies, Office of Business Affairs (Paper 2595).
9. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter), by leave, moved - That, unless otherwise ordered, Government Business Orders of the Day be considered in the following order:
      No. 2 standing in the name of Mr Hatton relating to the Criminal Code Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 162);
      No. 3 standing in the name of Mr Hatton relating to the Statute Law Revision Bill 1996 (Serial 156);
      No. 9 standing in the name of Mr Stone relating to the Police Administration Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 164); and
      No. 1 standing in the name of Mr Reed relating to the Appropriation Bill 1996-97 (Serial 166).

      Question - put and passed.

10. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - PAPERS TABLED - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
    The Attorney-General (Mr Burke) made a statement relating to the criminal justice system and victims of crime (Paper 2598).
      Papers tabled: Mr Burke laid on the Table the following Papers -

      Sentencing Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996, Draft Bill (Paper 2596); and
      Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996, Draft Bill (Paper 2597).

      Mr Burke moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

    Evidence Act 1995, No. 2 of 1995 of the Commonwealth (Paper 2599).
      On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) debate was adjourned.
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Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12 noon and 2.02 p.m.
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11. WEED MANAGEMENT STRATEGY - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Palmer) made a statement relating to the Northern Territory’s weed management strategy (Paper 2600).
    Paper tabled: Mr Palmer laid on the Table the following Paper -
    “The Northern Territory Weeds Management Strategy 1996 - 2005” (Paper 2601).
        Mr Palmer moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
        Debate ensued.
        Question - put and passed.
    12. SUMMARY OFFENCES AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 167):
      The Attorney-General (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Summary Offences Act.
        Bill read a first time.
        Mr Burke moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
        On the motion of the Member for Stuart (Mr Ede) debate was adjourned.
    13. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 162):
      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)
        Clause 1 agreed to.
        Clause 2 agreed to, after debate.
        Clause 3 agreed to, after debate.
        Clause 4 agreed to, after debate.
        Title agreed to.
        Bill to be reported without 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 Burke) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

    14. STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL 1996 (Serial 156):
      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)
        Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
        The Attorney-General (Mr Burke) moved the following amendment -

        Insert after clause 2 the following:

        “2A. AMENDMENT OF LIQUOR ACT

        “Section 4 of the Liquor Act is amended by adding at the end the following:
          ‘(2) Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference in this Act to a person employed by a licensee includes a reference to a person whose services are provided to a licensee under a contract with the person or another person.’.”.

        Insert in the Schedule after the item relating to the Northern Territory Tourist Commission Act the following:

          Ombudsman
          (Northern
          Territory) Act

          Section 12(1) ‘referred to in ‘within the
          section 11’ meaning of the
          Public Sector
          Employment and
          Management Act’”.

        Bill, as amended, agreed to.
        Bill to be 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 Attorney-General (Mr Burke) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law
      15. POLICE ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1996 (Serial 164):
        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.
        On the motion of the Minister for the Arts and Museums (Mr Manzie) debate was adjourned.

      16. APPROPRIATION BILL 1996-97 (Serial 166):
        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.
          On the motion of the Member for Victoria River (Mr Baldwin) debate was adjourned.

      17. ADJOURNMENT:
        The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
          Debate ensued.
        Papers tabled: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
          Areyonga Community Inc re Areyonga Housing Situation, dated 19 August 1996, Note from (Paper 2602);
          Letter, to the Areyonga Community Council from Ngoi Ngoi Donald, President and Zo Morgan, Head Teacher, dated 19 August 1996 (Paper 2603); and
          Letter, Mr Noel Coutts, Superintendent, Alice Springs West, Department of Education to Zo Morgan, Head Teacher, Areyonga School, dated 17 June 1996 (Paper 2604).

          Debate continued.
          And the Assembly adjourned at 9.37 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
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        PAPERS:
        The following Paper was deemed to have been presented on Tuesday 20 August 1996:

        Community Government Scheme:
        Milikapiti Community Government Scheme, Amendment (Paper 2592).
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        ATTENDANCE:
        All Members attended the sitting.
      Last updated: 04 Aug 2016