Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1997-02-25

Seventh Assembly First Session 25/02/1997 Parliamentary Record No. 31
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Date : 25/02/1997
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1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10:00, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker, the Honourable T.R. McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. AUDITOR-GENERAL FOR THE NORTHERN TERRITORY - MID-YEAR REPORT FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 1996 - PAPER TABLED - PAPER PRINTED - MOTION TO NOTE PAPER:
    The Speaker laid on the Table the Mid-Year Report For the Half Year ending 31 December 1996 of the Auditor-General of the Northern Territory, dated February 1997 (Paper 3058).
    The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) moved - That the Paper be printed.
    Question - put and passed.

    Mr Stone moved - That the Assembly take note of the Paper.
    Ordered - That Mr Stone have leave to continue his remarks at a later hour.
4. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of students from Year 6 and Year 7 from Moil Primary School and their teachers Mrs Judith Green and Ms Tracey Carrodus; and Year 11 students from Casuarina Secondary College and their teacher, Mr Peter Tibbets.
    On behalf of Honourable Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitors.

5. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given:
    Mr Hatton: To present the Parole of Prisoners Amendment Bill 1997 (Serial 223).
    Mr Burke: To present the Work Health Amendment Bill 1997 (Serial 225).
6. QUESTIONS:
    10:06 Mrs Hickey to Mr Stone.
    Paper tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
Letter from the Leader of the Opposition, dated 12 February 1997 (Paper 3059).
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    Distinguished visitor: The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the Gallery of Mr Bern Kilgariff, a former Member and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
    On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitor.
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    10:07 Mr Adamson to Mr Stone.
    10:20 Mrs Hickey to Mr Stone.
    10:22 Dr Lim to Mr Burke.
    10:25 Ms Martin to Mr Stone.
    10:32 Mr Setter to Mr Poole.
    10:36 Mrs Padgham-Purich to Mr Manzie.
    10:38 Mr Ah Kit to Mr Stone.
    10:57 Mr Baldwin to Mr Reed.
    11:02 The Leader of Government Business (Mr Coulter) requested that further questions be placed on Notice.
    Supplementary answers: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) gave a supplementary answer to a question asked earlier this day by the Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey).
7. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
    The Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), pursuant to Standing Order 57, made a personal explanation of remarks made by the Chief Minister (Mr Stone) during question time relating to use of postal resources.
    Paper tabled: Mrs Hickey, by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
Letter, Hon Shane Stone, MLA, Minister for Mines and Energy, dated 28 February 1994 (Paper 3064).

8. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Stone), pursuant to Standing Order 57, made a personal explanation of remarks made by the Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) in relation to the paper tabled by Mrs Hickey during her personal explanation.

9. POLICE AND POLICING IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Mr Stone) made a Statement relating to Police and Policing in the Northern Territory (Paper 3060).
    Mr Stone moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
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    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12:03 h and 14:15 h.
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    Debate resumed.
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    Visitors: The Speaker acknowledged the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of Legal Studies Students from the CSC and extended to them a warm welcome on behalf of Honourable Members.
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    Debate continued.
    Question - put and passed.

10. DRAFT WASTE OIL MANAGEMENT PLAN, DISCUSSION PAPER - PAPER TABLED - PAPER NOTED:
    The Minister for Planning and the Environment (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the Draft Waste Oil Management Plan - a Discussion Paper - Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment, February 1997 (Paper 3063).
    Mr Reed made statement thereto.
    Paper tabled: Mr Reed laid on the Table the following Paper -
Contaminated Sites in the NT - Discussion Paper, dated February 1997 (Paper 3065).

    Mr Reed moved - That the Assembly take note of the Papers.
    Debate ensued.
    Question - put and passed.

11. NOTICE:
    The following notice was given, by leave -
    Mr Palmer: To present the Fisheries Amendment Bill 1997 (Serial 224).

12. NATIVE TITLE CLAIM OVER PUBLIC AREAS - MOTION:
    The Treasurer (Mr Reed) pursuant to Notice, moved -
    That this Parliament -
(1) condemns the latest wave of native title claims over the public areas in the Northern Territory, especially East Point Reserve, Mindil Beach, Mindil Beach market site, and Vestey’s Beach in the Labor held seat of Fannie Bay, Lions Park and the Casuarina Coastal Reserve and the Tracy Village Sports and Social Club in the Labor held seat of Wanguri, the Alice Springs water supply at Roe Creek Borefield in the Labor held seat of Macdonnell, Howard Springs Nature Reserve in the seat of Nelson, and Marlow Lagoon Recreation Park in the seat of Brennan, as well as dozens of parks and recreation reserves in Darwin and Alice Springs; and
(2) calls upon all Members to display information and maps on the areas claimed under the Federal Native Title legislation in their electorate offices so that members of the public have ready access.

    Debate ensued.
    On the motion of the Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Manzie) debate was adjourned.

13. LOCAL COURT AMENDMENT BILL 1997 (Serial 219); and SMALL CLAIMS AMENDMENT BILL 1997 (Serial 220):
    Suspension of Standing Orders - Take Bills together : The Attorney-General (Mr Burke) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Local Court Amendment Bill 1997 (Serial 219);and Small Claims Amendment Bill 1997 (Serial 220) -
(a) being presented and read a first time together and one motion being put in regard to, respectively, the second readings; and the third readings of the Bills together; and
    (b) the consideration of the Bills separately in the Committee of the Whole.

      Mr Burke, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Local Court Act and a Bill for an Act to amend the Small Claims Act.
      Bills read a first time.
      Mr Burke moved - That the Bills be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) debate was adjourned.

    14. PARTNERSHIP BILL 1997 (Serial 221):
      The Attorney-General (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to consolidate the law relating to partnership.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Burke moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.
    15. PRISONERS (INTERSTATE TRANSFER) AMENDMENT BILL 1996 (Serial 203):
      The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the motion that the Bill be now read a second time -
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.
      Bill read a second time.
      Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
      On the motion of the Minister for Correctional Services (Mr Hatton) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

    16.CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND FAIR TRADING AMENDMENT BILL 1997 (Serial 218):
      Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass Bill through all stages: The Attorney-General (Mr Burke) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Amendment Bill 1997 (Serial 218) passing through all stages at these sittings.
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
      The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the motion that the Bill be now read a second time -
      Debate ensued.
      Question put and passed.
      Bill read a second time.
      Leave denied: Mr Burke sought leave to move motion for the third reading of the Bill forthwith.
      Objection being raised - leave denied.
      The Assembly, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bill.
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    In the Committee
    (Chairman Mr Setter)

      Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Amendment Bill 1997 (Serial 218):

      Bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to, after debate.
      Question - That the Bill stand as printed - put and passed.
      Bill to be reported without amendment.
      Report adopted.
      On the motion of the Attorney-General (Mr Burke) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

    17. REGIONALISATION OF MANGROVE COMMUNITIES - PAPER NOTED:
      The Order of the Day having been read for resumption of debate on the motion that the Assembly take note of the Paper -
      Debate ensued.
      Paper tabled: The Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Letter, Mr Peter Forrest, Chairman, Stuart Park Residents Group to Hon Mike Reed, Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment, undated (Paper 3067); and
    Letter, Hon Mike Reed, Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment to Mr Peter Forrest, Chairman, Stuart Park Residents Group and attaqched map of Darwin town Plan, dated 3 December 1996 (Paper 3068).

      Debate continued.
      Question - put and passed.

    18.SESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF ALCOHOL BY THE COMMUNITY - REPORT INTO PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA - PAPER NOTED:
      The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the motion - That the Assembly take note of the Paper -
      Debate ensued.
      Question - put and passed.

    19. ADJOURNMENT
      The Treasurer (Mr Reed) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 23:43 h until 10:00 on Wednesday 26 February 1997.
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      PAPERS:
      Annual Report:
      Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission 1995-96 (Paper 3061)

      By-laws:
      Amendments of Public Sector Employment and Management By-laws (Paper 3062)
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      ATTENDANCE
      All Members attended the sitting.
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016