Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1991-11-14

Sixth Assembly First Session 12/11/1991 Parliamentary Record No. 7
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Date : 14/11/1991
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1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10.00 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker, the Honourable N.M. Dondas, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. PETITION:
Mrs Hickey presented a petition from 90 citizens of the Northern Territory requesting the Assembly to prevent the closure of Kargaru Primary School.
Petition read.

4. NOTICES:
The following notices were given:
Mr Manzie: To present the Prostitution Regulation Bill 1991 (Serial 114).
Mr Manzie: To present the Criminal Code Amendment Bill (No.3) 1991 (Serial 115).
Mr Manzie: To present the Summary Offences Amendment Bill 1991 (Serial 116).
Mr Ede: To move - That - this Assembly censures the Chief Minister and the Treasurer for:

(1) their collective failure over a period of many years to maintain adequate oversight and control
over the Government's investment in the Sheratons and Yulara; and

(2) the substantial losses that they have caused to be incurred by Territorians through their failure.

5. PROPOSED CENSURE OF CHIEF MINISTER AND TREASURER - GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN THE SHERATONS AND YULARA - MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Setter) informed the Assembly that the Government, pursuant to Standing Order 95, accepted the notice of motion as a censure motion.
The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) thereupon moved -
That - this Assembly censures the Chief Minister and the Treasurer for:

(1) their collective failure over a period of many years to maintain adequate oversight and control
over the Government's investment in the Sheratons and Yulara; and

(2) the substantial losses that they have caused to be incurred by Territorians through their failure.

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

. Report to the Under Treasurer - Financial Assessment of the Proposed Yulara Tourist Development, dated 4 March 1982.

Debate ensued.

The Treasurer (Mr Coulter) moved the following amendment -

Omit all words after "That" and insert in their stead:

"this Assembly applauds the actions of the Government in establishing the Territory accommodation
and tourist facilities which will in the long term be of major benefit to the Northern Territory Tourist
Industry.".

Debate continued.
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Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 12.04 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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Debate continued.
Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put and passed.
Question - That the motion, as amended, be agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 14 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
Mr Palmer Mr Tipiloura
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Stone
Mr Vale

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.

6. REPORTED MASSACRE IN EAST TIMOR - MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
Suspension of Standing Orders: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey) moved - That so much of Standing
Orders be suspended as would prevent General Business, Notice No.2 relating to the reported massacre in East Timor
being called on forthwith.
Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no
dissentient voice.

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Mr Bailey, pursuant to notice, moved -

(1) That this Assembly -

(a) notes that the large Timorese community in the Northern Territory is greatly concerned
about the fate of relatives and friends who may have been victims in the reported
massacre of East Timorese people at the hands of Indonesian troops in Dili on
Tuesday, 12 November 1991;

(b) deplores the reported massacre of innocent East Timorese civilians;

(c) is of the opinion that the East Timorese have a right to a free and open
society; and

(d) applauds the call by the Australian Government for the Indonesian
Government to hold a full and open inquiry into the incident; and that the report of the
inquiry be made public.

(2) That the Speaker forward the terms of this resolution to the Prime Minister forthwith.

Debate ensued.

The Chief Minister (Mr Perron) moved the following amendment -

Omit all words after "(1) That this Assembly" and insert in their stead:

"(a) expresses on behalf of the Northern Territory community its concern over
the reported tragedy in Dili;

(b) expresses its deepest sympathy to the Territory's Timorese community and to
the families and friends of those killed and wounded; and

(c) supports an expeditious Indonesian Government inquiry into this
tragedy; and

(2) That the Speaker forward the terms of this resolution to the Prime Minister and members of the
Northern Territory Timorese community forthwith.".

Debate ensued.
Question - That the amendment moved by Mr Perron be agreed to - put and passed.
Question - That the motion, as amended, be agreed to - put and passed.

7. ALTERATION OF SITTING DAYS:
The Speaker advised Members that, pursuant to Sessional Order, he had appointed Monday 18 November 1991, at
10.00 a.m. to be the day and time of the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly; and that the Assembly will now sit on
the following days next week - Monday 18 November 1991, Tuesday 19 November 1991, and Wednesday 20 November 1991.

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8. FURTHER NOTICE:
The following further notice was given, by leave:
Mr Manzie: To present the Criminal Code Amendment Bill (No.4) 1991 (Serial 117).

9. WANT OF CONFIDENCE IN CHIEF MINISTER - MOTION NEGATIVED:
Suspension of Standing Orders: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be
suspended as would prevent him from moving the following motion:

That the Chief Minister no longer has the confidence of this Assembly because:

(1) he conspired with or failed to prevent the Secretary of his Department in forwarding
confidential Premiers' Conference documents to the Federal Opposition, thereby committing or
allowing to be committed a gross breach of trust; and

(2) he thus placed in jeopardy the whole basis for the Territory's working relationship with the
Commonwealth and the States.

Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no
dissentient voice.
Want of confidence: Mr Ede thereupon moved - That the Chief Minister no longer has the confidence of this Assembly
because:

(1) he conspired with or failed to prevent the Secretary of his Department in forwarding
confidential Premiers' Conference documents to the Federal Opposition, thereby committing
or allowing to be committed a gross breach of trust; and

(2) he thus placed in jeopardy the whole basis for the Territory's working relationship with the
Commonwealth and the States.

Debate ensued.
The Chief Minister (Mr Perron) moved - That the question be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 14 NOES, 11

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

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Question - That the motion be agreed to - put and negatived.

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10. MEMBER SUSPENDED:
The Speaker called upon the Member for Millner (Mr Smith) to withdraw unparliamentary words uttered during the Division
upon the Want of Confidence motion.
And Mr Smith refusing to withdraw the unparliamentary language - Member named: The Speaker thereupon named Mr Smith.
Member suspended: The Leader of Government Business Mr Setter) thereupon moved - That the Member for Millner
(Mr Smith) be suspended from the service of the Assembly.
Question - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 15 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
Mr Palmer Mr Tipiloura
Mr Perron
Mr Poole
Mr Reed
Mr Setter
Mr Stone
Mr Vale

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
Mr Smith, pursuant to Standing Order 241, was therefore suspended at 6.30 p.m. for 24 hours. Mr Smith accordingly
withdrew from the Chamber.

10. TERRITORY PARKS AND RESERVES - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
The Minister for Conservation (Mr Reed) made a statement relating to Government initiatives regarding parks, reserves
and protected areas in the Northern Territory.
Mr Reed moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
On the motion of the Minister for Tourism (Mr Vale) debate was adjourned.

11. WOMEN IN REMOTE AREAS - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
The Chief Minister (Mr Perron) made a statement relating to a report from the Women's Advisory Council on Women in
remote areas.
Paper tabled: Mr Perron laid on the Table the following Paper -

. A Study of the Health and Welfare Needs of Women living in Remote Areas of the Northern
Territory, by Diane J. Clark, BSc, MSc, dated August 1991.

Mr Perron moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
The Member for Barkly (Mrs Hickey) moved the following amendment - Omit all words after "That" and insert the
following in their stead:

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"(1) congratulates the Women's Advisory Council upon its initiative in commissioning this Report and
upon the quality of the Report; and

(2) calls on the Chief Minister to:

(a) report to this Assembly during the first sittings in 1992 with a definite
strategy including the allocation of funds to address issues raised in the Report and
implement the recommendations of the Women's Advisory Council Report;

(b) report to this Assembly during the first sittings in 1992 with a definite
women's strategy; and

(c) report to this Assembly in the first sittings in 1992 with a definite
women's health policy.".

Debate ensued.
The Minister for Health and Community Services (Mr Manzie) moved - That the question be now put.
Question - That the question be now put - put and passed.
Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. N.M. Dondas, in the Chair) -

AYES, 6 NOES, 16

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

Amendment negatived accordingly.
Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.

13. AYERS ROCK RESORT CORPORATION BILL 1991 (Serial 107); and YULARA TOURIST VILLAGE MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL 1991 (Serial 108):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Take two Bills together: The Minister for Industries and Development (Mr Hatton) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be
suspended as would prevent two Bills, the Ayers Rock Resort Corporation Bill 1991 (Serial 107); and the Yulara Tourist Village Management Amendment Bill 1991 (Serial 108) -

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(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 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 Hatton, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to establish the Ayers Rock Resort Corporation, and for
related purposes; and a Bill for an Act to amend the Yulara Tourist Village Management Act.
Bills read a first time.
Mr Hatton moved - That the Bills be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey) debate was adjourned.

14. MISUSE OF DRUGS AMENDMENT BILL 1991 (Serial 112); and POLICE ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL (No.3) 1991 (Serial 113):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Take two Bills together: The Attorney-General (Mr Manzie) moved - That so
much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent two Bills, the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill 1991 (Serial 112);
and the Police Administration Amendment Bill (No.3) 1991 (Serial 113) -

(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 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 Manzie, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act; and a Bill for an Act to
amend the Police Administration Act.
Bills read a first time.
Mr Manzie moved - That the Bills be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

15. ADJOURNMENT:
The Minister for Education (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 -

. Letter, K. Murphy, for Regional Manager South, Power and Water Authority to the Secretary, Northern
Territory Planning Authority, dated 4 December 1989; and
. Letter, Hon. R. Vale, MLA, Minister for Sport, Recreation, Ethnic Affairs and Local Government to
Mr Neil Bell, MLA, Member for Macdonnell, dated 9 November 1991.

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Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
The Assembly adjourned at 10.54 p.m. until Monday 18 November 1991 at 10.00 a.m.

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PAPERS:
The following Paper was deemed to have been presented on 14 November 1991:

Annual Report:
Legislative Assembly Members' Superannuation Trust, 1990-91.

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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.

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Last updated: 04 Aug 2016