Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1994-02-23

Sixth Assembly First Session 22/02/1994 Parliamentary Record No. 24
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Date : 23/02/1994
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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. QUESTIONS:
Questions were asked of Ministers.
Papers tabled: The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Papers -

"Horticulture could be $2 billion industry", Press Release, Brian Ede, Leader of the Opposition, dated 28 June 1991;
Speech - Territory Primary Industries, Mr Ede, Leader of the Opposition, Debates, dated 1 December 1993;
Policy Document - "Territory Labor's Plan to create Jobs and Economic Development in our Northern Territory";
Table - Total job growth in the first term of an Ede Labor Government; and
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1991 Census of Population and Housing - Industry By Sex.

A further question was asked of a Minister.
Paper tabled: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

National Media Release - 'Paul Scott's "Ghan Scam"', dated 20 December 1993.

A further question was asked of a Minister.

4. DISCUSSION PAPER ON SEXUAL ABUSE, IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORMS - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
The Attorney-General (Mr Manzie) made a statement on the Government's intentions in relation to changing the law and
practice on Sexual Abuse as a result of responses received from the public to the Government's Discussion Paper on
sexual abuse tabled in August 1992.
Mr Manzie moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
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Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11.53 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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Debate resumed.
Question - put and passed.

5. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TERRITORY HOSPITALS:
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 detrimental impact of the Northern Territory Government's waste, mismanagement and wrong priorities on
the efficiency and effectiveness of the Royal Darwin and other Territory Hospitals."

And the proposed discussion having received the necessary support - The Speaker called on Mrs Hickey to address the
Assembly.
Papers tabled: Mrs Hickey, by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -

Letter from Alan Walker, Medical Superintendent, Royal Darwin Hospital, dated 28 January 1994;
Memorandum, Deputy Medical Superintendent to All Resident Medical Officers and Registrars, re Provision of
Medical Cover for Katherine, dated 8 February 1994;
Letter, Dr Rose McGready to Dr David Douglas, General Manager, Royal Darwin Hospital, dated 22 September 1993; and
Article, "Nosocomial hypothermia in the tropics" by Michael Lowe, B Med and Rose McGready, MB BS, The Medical
Journal of Australia, Vol. 160, dated 7 February 1994.

Discussion continued.
Papers tabled: The Minister for Health and Community Services (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Papers -

Graph, Department of Health and Community Services, Expenditure 1991/92 $'s;
Graph, Hospital Services Division, Expenditure 1991/92 $'s; and
Table, Hospital Funding (adjusted to 26 pays).

Discussion continued.
Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Bailey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

"Going Bush with Doctor Smoothie", Good Weekend, dated 5 February 1994.

Discussion continued.
Discussion concluded.

6. PERPETUITIES BILL 1994 (Serial 307); and TRUSTEE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1994 (Serial 308):
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, namely the Perpetuities Bill 1994 (Serial 307) and the
Trustee Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1994 (Serial 308) -

(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 Manzie, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to effect reforms in the rule of law commonly known as the
rule against perpetuities and to abolish the rule of law commonly known as the rule against accumulations, and for
related purposes; and a Bill for an Act to amend the Trustee Act consequential on the passing of the Perpetuities Act
1994.
Bills read a first time.
Mr Manzie moved - That the Bills be now read a second time.
Paper tabled: Mr Manzie laid on the Table the following Paper -

Report on the Rules Against Perpetuities and Accumulations, Report No. 15, Northern Territory Law Reform Committee,
October 1993.

On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

7. EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL 1994 (Serial 309); SEXUAL OFFENCES (EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE) AMENDMENT BILL 1994 (Serial 310);
and OATHS AMENDMENT BILL 1994 (Serial 311):
Suspension of Standing Orders - Take three Bills together: The Attorney-General (Mr Manzie) moved - That so much of Standing Orders
be suspended as would prevent three Bills, namely the Evidence Amendment Bill 1994 (Serial 309); the Sexual
Offences (Evidence and Procedure) Amendment Bill 1994 (Serial 310); and the Oaths Amendment Bill 1994
(Serial 311) -

(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 Manzie, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Evidence Act; a Bill for an Act to amend the
Sexual Offences (Evidence and Procedure) Act; and a Bill for an Act to amend the Oaths 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.

8. SUMMARY OFFENCES AMENDMENT BILL 1994 (Serial 312):
The Attorney-General (Mr Manzie), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Summary Offences
Act.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Manzie moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

9. NATIONAL CRIME AUTHORITY (TERRITORY PROVISIONS) AMENDMENT BILL 1994 (Serial 313):
The Attorney-General (Mr Manzie), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the National Crime
Authority (Territory Provisions) Act.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Manzie moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

10. ADJOURNMENT:
The Minister for Correctional Services (Mr Poole) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

Letter, Mr Neil Bell, MLA to the Hon. S. Hatton, Minister for Lands Housing and Local Government, dated 31 January
1994.

Debate continued.
Paper tabled: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, laid on the Table the following further Paper -

Article "Tourist Park Proposal for Railway Siding", Centralian Advocate, dated 26 October 1993.

Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
The Assembly adjourned at 7.08 p.m. until Tuesday 1 March 1994 at 10.00 a.m., in accordance with the written
notification given by Mr Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.

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ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.

IAN McNEILL
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016