Sitting of the Legislative Assembly on 5 October 2011

"Your Parliament - Your Voice"

From the Office of the Speaker

Sitting of the Legislative Assembly on 5 October 2011

The Legislative Assembly met on Wednesday 5 October 2011 at 10 am and concluded without a lunch break at 1.30 pm. The Clerk to the Legislative Assembly being absent from duty for personal reasons, the House on the motion of the Chief Minister recommended in accordance with section 48 of the Legislative Assembly Act 1979 that the Speaker appoint Sharyn Quintal to act as the Clerk while the Clerk is absent from duty for the meeting of the House on 5 October 2011.

Answers were provided both to questions without notice and on notice.

The following papers were tabled:

1)   RESA specifications and drawings (Minister Nobbs)

2)   Electricity Supply (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (Minister Nobbs)

3)   Legal Aid Report 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 (Chief Minister)

4)   Norfolk Island Government Budget Financial Statements (Chief
     Minister)

5) Funding Agreement 2011/2012 for the Norfolk Island Territory signed 22 September 2011 (Chief Minister) Debate ensued on the motion by Mrs Ward – That the paper be noted

6)  Population and Planning on Norfolk Island Report No. 1: Overview of the Norfolk Island Plan dated 3 May 2011 (Ms Adams by leave)

7) Population and Planning on Norfolk Island Report No. 2’ Population and Sustainability Issues dated 29 August 2011 (Ms Adams by leave)

8) Married Persons (Equality of Status) Bill 2011 – Explanatory
    Memorandum (Chief Minister)

The Speaker reported –

Message No. 21 from the Administrator under section 21 of the Norfolk Island Act 1979 advising that on 20 September 2011 he declared his assent to the Appropriation Act 2011-2012 (Act No 12 of 2011)

Outcomes for matters on the Notice Paper which were debated are as follows:

1) The House resolved to encourage the Commonwealth Government to engage the Centre for International Economics to simultaneously update its 2006 study of the impact of extending Commonwealth laws to Norfolk Island that may impact significantly on the Norfolk Island economy

2) Mr David Sinclair South was appointed as a member of the Public Service Board for the period 6 October 2011 to 5 October 2013

3) The House resolved that the Minister with responsibility for the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau Advisory Board appoint Mr Barry Hyatt to be a delegate member of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau Advisory Board for the appointed Member David Bell

4) The House resolved that the Hon David Buffett AM MLA enter into urgent dialogue with the Hon Simon Crean MP to discuss an approach being made to Major General Jeffery AC, CVO, MC, former Governor-General of Australia, and the Hon Robert “Bob” Ellicott QC, BA, LLB, former Federal Minister with responsibility for Norfolk Island in 1979 to consider the possibility to their being co-opted to independently oversee the changes to the 1979 partnership between the Commonwealth of Australia and Norfolk Island

5) The Chief Minister presented the Married Persons (Equality of Status) Bill 2011; debate was adjourned on the motion – That the Bill be agreed to in principle

6) The Electricity Supply (Amendment) Bill 2011 introduced on 7
    September 2011 was agreed

The House adjourned until 9 November 2011 at 10 am

To read the Notice Paper, Programme and Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 5 October 2011 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com