31
NORFOLK ISLAND
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
EIGHTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
10 SEPTEMBER 1997
NORF’K AILEN
DIISEM MENETS LARNEN WATHING HAEPN
INAA
IETH LEJESLIETEW ‘SEMBLE
10 SEPTEMBA 1997
1
The Legislative Assembly met at 10.04 am. The Speaker (Hon G C Smith) took
the chair and read the Prayer
Acting Deputy Speaker Mr Gardner took the Chair at 10.06 am
2
CONDOLENCES
The Chief Minister reported to the House that on 1 September 1997, following
the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, an appropriate Message of sincere
sympathy was sent by him in his capacity of Speaker, on behalf of the Members
of the Legislative Assembly of Norfolk Island and the people of Norfolk Island
Paper:
The Chief Minister tabled a copy of the Message
The Chief Minister then recorded the death of Ruth Buffett.
As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased all Members stood in
silence
3
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Acting Deputy Speaker Mr Bates too the Chair at 10.25 am
Mr Nobbs moved THAT time for questions be extended by 5 minutes
Question put and agreed to unanimously
Time for questions without notice having again expired Mr Nobbs moved THAT time for questions be extended by a further 5 minutes
Question put and agreed to unanimously
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Time for questions without notice having again expired Mr Nobbs moved THAT time for questions be extended by a further 5 minutes
Question put and agreed to unanimously
4
QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Answers were provided to questions on notice number 6, 9, 10 and 12
5
PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
The following papers were presented to the House 1)
Mr Smith (Chief Minister) read and tabled the Public Sector
Remuneration Tribunal Determinations No. 2, 3 and 4 of 1997
2)
Mr Robertson (Minister for Tourism and Commerce) - Inbound Passenger
Statistics August 1997
Mr Robertson moved THAT the House take note of the Paper
Debate ensued
Question put and agreed to unanimously
3)
Mr Smith (Chief Minister) a)
b)
c)
d)
Letter of explanation dated 1 September 1997 from the Public
Sector Remuneration Tribunal in respect of Determination No. 4 of
1997;
Financial Indicators August 1997;
Directions for virement given by the executive member up to 30
June 1997;
Written response to question on Notice No. 8 asked by Mr Adams at
the August 1997 sitting of the House. The response was read to the
House
Mr Smith moved THAT the House take note of the Paper
Debate ensued
Question put and agreed to unanimously
33
e)
1997 Report of Commonwealth Grants Commission
Mr Smith moved THAT the House take note of the Paper
Debate ensued
Debate adjourned (Mr Ion-Robinson) and the resumption of debate
made an Order of the Day for a subsequent day of sitting
6
STATEMENTS
Statements were made in respect of the following matters:
1)
Mr Smith (Minister for Finance and Strategic Planning) - Progress report
on the airport redevelopment
2)
Mr Nobbs - Carl Marsden Wind turbine proposal and other alternative
energy options
Mr Smith moved THAT the House take note of the Statement
Debate ensued
Question put and agreed to unanimously
3)
7
Mr Smith (Chief Minister) - visit to Sydney to hold talks with the Federal
Minister Mr Warwick Smith MP
MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Speaker reported the following Message from the Office of the
Administrator:
Message No. 118 from the Administrator advising that on 26 August 1997 he
declared his assent to the Building Amendment Act 1997 and the Land
Administration Fees Amendment Act 1997 and reserved for the pleasure of the
Governor-General the Land Titles Amendment Bill 1997
8
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER OF NORFOLK ISLAND NATIONAL
PARK AND BOTANIC GARDEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mr Ion-Robinson (Minister for Community and Resource Management),
pursuant to notice, moved -
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THAT this House recommends to the Administrator that, in accordance
with the Plan of Management of the Norfolk Island National Park and
Botanic Garden, Peter Martin Davidson, Conservator, Norfolk Island
Parks and Forestry Service, be appointed a member of the Norfolk Island
National Park and Botanic Garden Advisory Committee
Debate ensued
Question put and agreed to unanimously
Acting Deputy Speaker Mr Gardner took the Chair at 11.46 am
9
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF NORFOLK ISLAND
Debate resumed (Mr Ion-Robinson, Minister for Community and Resource
Management) on the question - That the motion be agreed to
Debate ensued
At the request of Mr Ion-Robinson, motion discharged from the Notice Paper by
leave
10
DISCHARGE OF ORDER OF THE DAY FROM THE NOTICE PAPER
Motion appearing as Notice No. 2 on the Notice Paper in the name of Mr Bates
withdrawn
11
EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION TO R.A.A.F FOR THE MEDIVAC
SERVICE THEY PROVIDE TO THE ISLAND
Mr Bates, pursuant to notice, moved THAT in view of comments made by the crew of the mercy flight by the
R.A.A.F on 30 August 1997 regarding certain articles recently appearing in
the mainland and other overseas press, this House requests the Speaker to
write to Air Commodore D. Chipman, Commander Airlift Group, R.A.A.F
Base Richmond conveying our sincere appreciation for the support of the
R.A.A.F. both in the past and on this occasion and pointing out that the
views expressed in the newspapers are not the views of this House or the
community in general
Debate ensued
Mr Brown (Minister for Health and Education), by leave, moved THAT the motion be amended as follows:
a)
b)
c)
Delete the words “in view of comments made by the crew of the mercy
flight by the R.A.A.F. on 30 August 1997 regarding certain articles
appearing in the mainland and other overseas press”;
Insert the words “past and continued” in line 5 before the word
“support”; and
delete all words after “R.A.A.F” in line 5 and insert the words “to the
people of Norfolk Island”
35
Debate ensued
Question - that the amendment be agreed to - put and agreed to, Mr Bates
dissenting
Question - that the motion as amended be agreed to - put and agreed to
unanimously
12
OFFICIAL SURVEY AMENDMENT BILL 1997
Mr Ion-Robinson (Minister for Community and Resource Management),
pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Official Survey Act
1978 and moved THAT the Bill be agreed to in principle
Debate ensued
Debate adjourned (Mr Ion-Robinson) and the resumption of debate made an
Order of the Day for a subsequent day of sitting
13
CROWN LANDS AMENDMENT BILL 1997
Mr Ion-Robinson (Minister for Community and Resource Management)
presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Crown Lands Act 1996 and moved THAT the Bill be agreed to in principle
Debate ensued
Debate adjourned (Mr Ion-Robinson) and the resumption of debate made an
Order of the Day for a subsequent day of sitting
14
SUBDIVISION AMENDMENT BILL 1997
Mr Ion-Robinson (Minister for Community and Resource Management)
presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Subdivision Act 1996 and moved THAT the Bill be agreed to in principle
Debate ensued
Debate adjourned (Mr Ion-Robinson) and the resumption of debate made an
Order of the Day for a subsequent day of sitting
15
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION NO. 3 BILL 1997
Debate resumed (Mr Smith, Minister for Finance and Strategic Planning) on the
question - That the Bill be agreed to in principle
Paper:
Mr Smith tabled the Administration of Norfolk Island
Approved Budget Proposals for the Government Business
Enterprises for 1997-98
Question put
Bill unanimously agreed to in principle
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Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage
Mr Smith moved THAT the Bill be agreed to
Question put
Bill unanimously agreed to
16
IMMIGRATION AMENDMENT BILL 1997
Debate resumed (Mr Brown, Minister for Health and Immigration) on the
question - That the Bill be agreed to in principle
Question put
Bill unanimously agreed to in principle
Detail stage:
Mr Brown moved -
`
Clause 4, Page 1, line 16 to Page 2 line 5
Omit the clause, substitute the following clause:
Interpretation
“4. Section 4 is amended by inserting in subsection (1) ‘passport’ means a passport that is in force and includes a document of
identity having the characteristics of a passport and issued from official
sources;
‘prescribed person’ means a person other than a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
an Australian citizen who holds, and has shown an officer, his or her
Australian passport; or
a New Zealand citizen who holds, and has shown an officer, his or
her New Zealand passport; or
a person who has been granted a visa to travel to and enter Australia
or New Zealand that is valid for a period of greater than 60 days, and
has shown an officer evidence of that visa; or
a person who otherwise has a right to enter Australia or New
Zealand, and has shown an officer evidence of that right; or
a person who has travelled to Norfolk Island from New Caledonia
and has a right to re-enter New Caledonia, and has shown an officer
evidence of that right,”.
Debate ensued on the amendments
Question - That the amendments be agreed to - put and agreed to unanimously
Question - That the remainder of the Bill be agreed to - put and agreed to
unanimously
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Mr Brown moved THAT the Bill as amended be agreed to
Question put
Bill as amended unanimously agreed to
17
FIREARMS BILL 1997
Debate resumed (Mr Ion-Robinson, Minister for Community and Resource
Management) on the question - That the Bill be agreed to in principle
Debate adjourned (Mr Ion-Robinson) and the resumption of debate made an
Order of the Day for a subsequent day of sitting
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TREES BILL 1997
Debate resumed (Mr Ion-Robinson, Minister for Community and Resource
Management) on the question - That the Bill be agreed to in principle
Paper:
Mr Ion-Robinson tabled amendments he proposes to the Bill
Debate adjourned (Mr Ion-Robinson) and the resumption of debate made an
Order of the Day for a subsequent day of sitting
19
NEXT DAY OF SITTING
Mr Nobbs moved THAT the House at its rising adjourn until Wednesday 15 October 1997 at
10 am
Question put and agreed to unanimously
20
ADJOURNMENT
Mr Adams moved THAT the House do now adjourn
Debate ensued as follows:
Mr Ion-Robinson (Minister for Community and Resource Management)
reported that the Association of Norfolk Islanders had for the second year in a
row been invited by the United Nations Working Group to nominate a candidate
for the Human Rights Indigenous Fellowship programme for 1998
Mr Smith (Chief Minister), on behalf of his Assembly colleagues, extended
congratulations to the Norfolk Island team which competed in the 5th South
Pacific Mini Games held in American Samoa, and to whom was awarded the
“Sportsmanship Award” for “the Team that exemplifies Best Sportsmanship
throughout the 5th South Pacific Mini Games” These remarks were endorsed by
Mr Robertson (Minister for Tourism and Commerce
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Mr Smith (Chief Minister), in his capacity of both Speaker and Chief Minister,
extended thanks to Members of the 8th Legislative Assembly for their support to
him during the first 4 months of operation of the 8th Assembly which Mr Smith
said, was in his opinion, a progressive Assembly where Members were working
in close association with one another, an arrangement which, Mr Smith said, he
looked forward to continuing for the remainder of the Assembly’s term. In
particular he extended thanks to the Deputy Speaker, Mr Buffett and to the
Acting Deputy Speakers, Mr Bates and Mr Gardner, for their assistance to him
in chairing the sittings of the House. Mr Brown (Minister for Health and
Education) endorsed these remarks
AND THEN the House at 1.24 pm adjourned until Wednesday 15 October 1997
at 10 am
Robin-Eleanor Adams
Clerk to the Legislative Assembly
MEMBERS PRESENT:
All Members were present except Mr Buffett, by
leave