Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1991-10-01

Sixth Assembly First Session 01/10/1991 Parliamentary Record No. 5
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Date : 01/10/1991
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1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00 a.m., pursuant to resolution of the Assembly of 22 August 1991. The Speaker, the Honourable N.M. Dondas, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
The Minister for Sport, Recreation, Ethnic Affairs and Local Government (Mr Vale), by leave, made a personal explanation relating to an answer to
a question given during the previous sittings regarding the Araluen Centre in Alice Springs.
Paper tabled: Mr Vale laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Letter, Hon R.W.S. Vale, MLA, Minister for Sport, Recreation, Ethnic Affairs and Local Government to Mrs Leslie Oldfield, Mayor of Alice Springs, dated 11 July 1991.

4. PETITIONS:
Mr Hatton presented a petition from 1444 citizens of the Northern Territory requesting that the Assembly prevent the proposed closure of the Nightcliff Community Health Centre.
Petition read.
Mr Perron presented a petition from 25 citizens of the Northern Territory requesting the Assembly to recognise the detriment to the quality of Education that proposed cuts to educational services will have and to reverse these decisions.
Petition read
Mr McCarthy presented a petition from 254 citizens of the Northern Territory requesting the Assembly to protect Litchfield Park by prohibiting hotel/motel and lodge developments within the Park boundaries.
Petition read.

5. QUESTIONS:
Questions were asked of Ministers.
Papers tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Coulter) laid on the Table the following Papers -

. 'Northern Territory Public Sector Debt' by the Leader of the Opposition, dated August 1991;
. Comments by Treasury on 'N.T. Public Sector Debt' paper tabled in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly on 22 August 1991 by the Leader of the Opposition,
dated October 1991; and

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. Debt Servicing, Extract: Supplementary Budget Information, State Budget 1991-92 Budget Paper No 4, Queensland Government.

Further questions were asked of Ministers.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Conservation (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Memorandum, Hon M.A. Reed, MLA, Minister responsible for Museums to Acting Director, Museums and Art Galleries;
and Chairman, Museums and Art Galleries Board of the Northern Territory, re Travel Approval - Interstate and Overseas, dated 31 July 1991.

A further question was asked of a Minister.

6. COMMONWEALTH DISADVANTAGED SCHOOLS PROGRAMME - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
The Minister for Education (Mr Stone) made a statement relating to the Commonwealth Disadvantaged Schools Programme.
Mr Stone moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) moved the following amendment -

At the end of the motion add ", and that this Assembly do all in its power to overcome the educational
disadvantage suffered by Aboriginal Territorians".

Papers tabled: Mr Bell, by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -

. Letter, Mr N.R. Bell, MLA to Hon John Dawkins, MP, Minister for Employment, Education and Training, dated 22 February 1991; and
. Letter, Brendan Sheehan, Senior Advisor, Office of the Minister for Employment, Education and Training to Mr N.R. Bell, MLA, dated 28 May 1991.

Paper tabled: Mr Bell, by leave, laid on the Table the following further Paper -

. Letter, Mr N.R. Bell, MLA to Hon S. Stone, MLA, Minister for Education, Employment and Training, dated 22 February 1991.

Paper tabled: Mr Bell, by leave, laid on the Table the following further Paper -

. 'It's Corny Copia' No 6, Commonwealth Programs N.T. Secretariat.

Debate continued.
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Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11.46 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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Debate continued.
Question - That the words proposed to be added by the amendment moved by Mr Bell, be added - put.
Division called -
And Mr Bell, having twice used unparliamentary language addressed at Members and continuing to defy the call for order by the Chair -

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Member named: The Speaker thereupon named the honourable Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell)
Division called off.
Member suspended: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) thereupon moved - That the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) be suspended
from the service of the Assembly.
Question - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 16 NOES, 9

Mr Collins Mr Bailey
Mr Coulter Mr Bell
Mr Dondas Mr Cartwright
Mr Finch Mr Ede
Mr Hatton Mrs Hickey
Mr Manzie Mr Lanhupuy
Mr McCarthy Mr Smith
Mr Ortmann Mr Stirling
Mrs Padgham-Purich Mr Tipiloura
Mr Palmer
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
Mr Vale

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Mr Bell, pursuant to Standing Orders 240 and 241, was therefore suspended at 2.34 p.m. for 24 hours. Mr Bell accordingly withdrew from the Chamber.
Question - That the words proposed to be added by the amendment moved by Mr Bell, be added - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 8 NOES, 16

Mr Bailey Mr Collins
Mr Cartwright Mr Coulter
Mr Ede Mr Dondas
Mrs Hickey Mr Finch
Mr Lanhupuy Mr Hatton
Mr Smith Mr Manzie
Mr Stirling Mr McCarthy
Mr Tipiloura Mr Ortmann
Mrs Padgham-Purich
Mr Palmer
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
Mr Vale

Amendment negatived accordingly.
Question - That the Assembly take note of the Statement - put and passed.

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7. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - SERVICES TO WOMEN:
The Speaker informed the Assembly that the Member for Barkly (Mrs Hickey) had proposed that the following definite matter of public importance be submitted
to the Assembly for discussion this day:

'the continuing disregard paid by the Chief Minister and his Government to the issues and concerns of Territory women particularly
demonstrated by the disproportionate targeting of services to women through cuts announced under the Estimates Review Committee.'

And the proposed discussion having received the necessary support -

The Speaker called on Mrs Hickey to address the Assembly.

Discussion ensued.
Discussion concluded.

8. APPROPRIATION BILL 1991-92 (Serial 88):
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 resumed.
Paper tabled: The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

. Media Release - Darwin Remains Most Expensive City for Electricity by Mr Paul Harvey, Senior Analyst, N.U.S. International Pty Ltd, dated June 1991.

Debate continued.
On the motion of the Member for Karama (Mr Palmer) debate was adjourned.

9. ADJOURNMENT:
The Minister for Education (Mr Stone) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Papers tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -

. Newspaper article, Leibler Brothers slam 'bizarre' NT claims, The Australian Jewish News, Sydney Edition, dated 6 September 1991; and
. Newspaper article, NT Speaker won't censure MLA over anti-Jewish comments, The Australian Jewish News, Sydney Edition, dated 13 September 1991.

Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
The Assembly adjourned at 11.03 p.m. until tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
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PAPERS:
The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Tuesday 1 October 1991:

Agreements and Determinations:
Senior Prison Officers Arbitral Determination No.3 -
Determination T1 of 1991, dated 7 August 1991
Determination T8 of 1991, dated 9 August 1991

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Casino Licensing and Control Act:
Deed, pursuant to Section 3, dated 5 September 1991

Regulations 1991:
No.44, Amendments of Water Supply and Sewerage

Regulations
No.45, Amendment of Public Holidays Regulations
No.46, Amendments of Local Court (Small Claims Fees) Rules
No.47, Amendments of Darwin Rates Regulations
No.48, Amendments of the Mining Regulations
No.49, Amendments of the Real Property Regulations
No.50, Amendments of the Special Purposes Leases Regulations
No.51, Amendments of Crown Lands Regulations.
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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.

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Last updated: 04 Aug 2016