23 June 2010 sitting of the House

The Appropriation Bill 2010-2011 was passed unanimously and unamended on Wednesday the 23rd June with all Members participating actively in debate on the Bill with varying views and philosophies being exchanged about the budgetary process and the way forward in the next financial year. I am advised that the Bill will be presented to the Executive Council for assent on 29 June 2010. The composition and role of the Executive Council is prescribed in Part III, Section 11, of the Norfolk Island Act of 1979. The Executive Council consists of the persons for the time being holding executive office (the Government Ministers);. The Administrator is entitled to attend all meetings of the Executive Council and shall preside at all meetings at which he or she is present. The role of the Executive Council is to advise the Administrator on all matters relating to the government of the Territory.

The following additional matters were considered at the sitting:

• Exemption of payment of customs duty by St. John’s Ambulance who imported medical supplies/equipment for the community which would otherwise have attracted $1462.57 customs duty. The motion was agreed.
• Three applications under the Tourist Accommodation Act 1984 relating to transfer of existing accommodation licences from one property to another as follows:
o One unit from “The Bounty Lodge” accommodation house to “The Buck’s Point House” on portion 34i2(a) Martins Road;
o One unit from “Castaway Hotel and Apartments” to “Hideaway Retreat” on portion 153i4(a) George Hunn Nobbs Road;
o One unit from “The Bounty Lodge” to the “Ball Bay House” on portion 49e3 Collins Head Road
Debate on all three motions was adjourned until the 28 July sitting of the House.
• The re-appointment of Nadia Cuthbertson, Morgan Evans, David Sanders and David Porter as members of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau for six months commencing on 1 July 2010. The motion was agreed.
• The Road Traffic (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2010 which was passed through all stages at the sitting.
• The Public Sector Management (Amendment) Bill 2010 which was introduced with debate being adjourned until the 28 July sitting of the House.
• The Child Welfare (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2010, which was also passed.

All of the above Bills and related documents can be found on www.info.gov.nf under “Legislative Assembly/Bills Passed Awaiting Passage/13thAssembly"

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 24 June 2010