DEBATES – Thursday 24 August 2017 CONTENTS VISITORS ................................................................................................................................................. 2247 Darwin Middle School ............................................................................................................................ 2247 SPEAKER’S STATEMENT ....................................................................................................................... 2247 Daffodil Day ........................................................................................................................................... 2247 ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND STATUTORY OFFICERS (REMUNERATION AND OTHER ENTITLEMENTS) AMENDMENT BILL ................................................................................................................................... 2247 (Serial 27) .............................................................................................................................................. 2247 CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT (DANGEROUS NAVIGATION OF VESSELS) BILL ............................ 2249 (Serial 28) .............................................................................................................................................. 2249 VISITORS ................................................................................................................................................. 2251 SPEAKER’S STATEMENT ....................................................................................................................... 2251 Death of Dr G Yunupingu ...................................................................................................................... 2251 CONDOLENCE MOTION ......................................................................................................................... 2251 Dr G Yunupingu ..................................................................................................................................... 2251 SUPREME COURT AMENDMENT (ASSOCIATE JUDGES) BILL .......................................................... 2263 (Serial 26) .............................................................................................................................................. 2263 VISITORS ................................................................................................................................................. 2265 Darwin Middle School ............................................................................................................................ 2265 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ..................................................................................................................... 2266 Investing in Jobs – Mining and Primary Industry ................................................................................... 2266 VISITORS ................................................................................................................................................. 2269 PERSONAL EXPLANATION .................................................................................................................... 2269 Member for Daly .................................................................................................................................... 2269 VISITORS ................................................................................................................................................. 2269 SPEAKER’S STATEMENT ....................................................................................................................... 2269 Death of Mr Lester ................................................................................................................................. 2269 CONDOLENCE MOTION ......................................................................................................................... 2269 Mr Lester ............................................................................................................................................... 2269 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ..................................................................................................................... 2274 Investing in Jobs – Mining and Primary Industry ................................................................................... 2274 VISITORS ................................................................................................................................................. 2285 Dr Iain Spiers ......................................................................................................................................... 2285 PAPERS TABLED ..................................................................................................................................... 2310 Auditor-General’s Report on Members’ Fuel Cards and Quarterly Fuel Transactions .......................... 2310 Report of the Standing Orders Committee – Inquiry into ....................................................................... 2310 Recommendations Referred by the Assembly on 9 May 2017 ............................................................. 2310 MOTIONS ................................................................................................................................................. 2313 Appointment to Committees .................................................................................................................. 2313 Refer Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bill to ................................................................ 2313 Social Policy Scrutiny Committee .......................................................................................................... 2313 PAPERS TABLED ..................................................................................................................................... 2315 Standing Orders Committee – Report on Consideration of Reform to Standing Order 23A ................. 2315 DEBATES – Thursday 24 August 2017 Public Accounts Committee Annual Report 2016–17 and Minutes ....................................................... 2315 MOTION .................................................................................................................................................... 2316 Note Paper – Travel Report for Member for Arnhem ............................................................................ 2316 ADJOURNMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 2316 DEBATES – Thursday 24 August 2017 Madam Speaker Purick took the Chair at 10 am. VISITORS Darwin Middle School Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of Year 8 students from Darwin Middle School, accompanied by their teachers, Cathy Deans and Cathy Hood. On behalf of honourable members, welcome to Parliament House. I hope you have a lovely time here. Members: Hear, hear! SPEAKER’S STATEMENT Daffodil Day Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, tomorrow is Daffodil Day and the pins have been placed on your desks in order to promote this event. Chances are we all know someone affected by cancer. In Australia today there are more than 1.1 million people either living with cancer or who have survived a diagnosis. The Cancer Council funds research, undertakes prevention campaigns, such as the Sun Smart campaign in schools, and provides support and advocacy services. Overall, the aim of the Cancer Council is to work towards a cancer-free future. I urge members to show your support for the Cancer Council this August by hashtagging #daffodilday and showing us your pin, your Dougal bear, your dedication or simply your smile. Get involved and help raise vital funds for cancer research, prevention and support services and advocacy for Territorians and all Australians. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND STATUTORY OFFICERS (REMUNERATION AND OTHER ENTITLEMENTS) AMENDMENT BILL (Serial 27) Bill presented and read a first time. Mr GUNNER (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time. The Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Act provides for the determination of entitlements of Legislative Assembly members and statutory officers, including local court judges. The act enables the minister to determine an entitlement for an Assembly member for which the Remuneration Tribunal is yet to determine, and these ministerial determinations are automatically revoked once the Remuneration Tribunal makes a determination for the same matter. The purpose of this bill is to amend the Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Act to remove the power of the Legislative Assembly to disallow Remuneration Tribunal determinations following concerns expressed by Members of the Legislative Assembly and you, Madam Speaker. The bill will also remove two superfluous phrases from section 5 regarding the minister’s power to determine entitlements for Assembly members, which were erroneously left in the section when it was amended in 2016, and which restrict the operation of the section contrary to parliament’s intention. Under the act, the Remuneration Tribunal conducts inquiries and provides a report and determination on the entitlements of Members of the Legislative Assembly and Local Court judges. The Remuneration Tribunal report and determination must be tabled in the Assembly