The Legislative Assembly met on 19 January 2011 at 10 am and concluded shortly before 5 pm with a lunch break between 12.30 pm and 2 pm. The sitting agenda was full with the following matters addressed.
Condolences were recorded in respect of the passing of Alfred Hugh Sampson, Rosina Ruth Park and Seremaia Batirua. On behalf of my Assembly colleagues and the Norfolk Island community I extended our sincere sympathy to all in Australia who have suffered deep and tragic loss at this time as a consequence of the catastrophic floods that have devastated so many parts of the eastern States of Australia, in particular neighbouring Queensland. The Chief Minister joined me in offering words of condolence.
Time for questions – both without notice and on notice – was robust and answers were provided to some 18 questions on the Notice Paper. Since the commencement of the 13th Assembly there have been 115 questions placed on notice.
The following papers were tabled:
• Review of Telecommunications Competition on Norfolk Island (Minister Nobbs);
• Statement of Intention re Self Funded Retirees (Chief Minister);
• Funding Agreement for the Territory of Norfolk Island (Chief Minister). This document can be accessed on www.ni.net.nf;
• Inbound passenger statistics for December 2010 (Minister Nobbs);
• Virements authorised by executive member under Public Moneys Act 1979 (Minister Anderson);
• Financial Indicators as at November 2010 (Minister Anderson);
• Instrument of appointment of Chief Magistrate (Minister Anderson);
• Report on Public Consultation for Proposed Variation to the Norfolk Island Plan (to allow outdoor sport and recreation facilities at the Bicentennial complex Rawson Oval) including the Norfolk Island Zoning Map with “& Outdoor Recreation facilities” included;
Minister Sheridan made statements about,-
• Activities of the Emergency Services during tropical cyclone warning; and
• BVDV Programme on the Norfolk Island herd.
Mr King, Chairman of the Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee, presented the Report of the Committee on its inquiry into the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010. Debate on the report has been adjourned. The report can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly/Committee Reports.
Outcomes for matters on the Notice Paper which were debated are as follows:
• The House agreed an amendment to the Norfolk Island Plan to change the use of the Bicentennial Complex and Rawson Hall oval to read “Public Building, Park & Outdoor Sport & Recreation Facilities”;
• Approval was given to exempt the Lions Club from payment of customs duty to the value of $246.09 on Christmas Cakes;
• A motion was passed requesting the Government to bring to the House by the May 2011 sitting a detailed written report on the desirability or otherwise of maintaining government policy which allows intrusion by government owned business on private sector commercial activities;
• A motion proposed by Mr King in respect of the policy relating to lump sum payments under the Social Services Act 1980 was debated and adjourned;
• Approval was given under the Tourist Accommodation Act 1984 to the transfer of registration of one unit from Castaway Hotel and Apartments to “Ahstyk” and of one unit from Castaway Hotel and Apartments to “Rocky Point Lodge”; the approvals are conditional on certain requirements being met;
• A motion move by Mr King at the December sitting in respect of the deregulation of telecommunications was debated and defeated;
• Debate resumed from the November sitting on the Provident (Amendment) Bill 2010. and the Bill was agreed to.
A change to the sitting pattern of the House was agreed by the majority of members with the result that the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly is scheduled for Wednesday 2 March 2011 at 10 am and thereafter at six weekly intervals. Consequent on this decision it is anticipated that the House in the next six months will sit on 2 March, 13 April, 25 May and 6 July 2011. The Norfolk Island Act 1979 provides that the Administrator shall convene a meeting of the Assembly when requested to do so by three Members of the Assembly.
Mr Robert Patch PSM, Director, Norfolk Island Section, Territories Division, returns to the Island on 23 January for further discussions. He will be joined on 27 January by Mr Steve Clay, Acting Assistant Secretary, Territories East Branch. Details of their visit will be published elsewhere.
Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 21 January 2011
Condolences were recorded in respect of the passing of Alfred Hugh Sampson, Rosina Ruth Park and Seremaia Batirua. On behalf of my Assembly colleagues and the Norfolk Island community I extended our sincere sympathy to all in Australia who have suffered deep and tragic loss at this time as a consequence of the catastrophic floods that have devastated so many parts of the eastern States of Australia, in particular neighbouring Queensland. The Chief Minister joined me in offering words of condolence.
Time for questions – both without notice and on notice – was robust and answers were provided to some 18 questions on the Notice Paper. Since the commencement of the 13th Assembly there have been 115 questions placed on notice.
The following papers were tabled:
• Review of Telecommunications Competition on Norfolk Island (Minister Nobbs);
• Statement of Intention re Self Funded Retirees (Chief Minister);
• Funding Agreement for the Territory of Norfolk Island (Chief Minister). This document can be accessed on www.ni.net.nf;
• Inbound passenger statistics for December 2010 (Minister Nobbs);
• Virements authorised by executive member under Public Moneys Act 1979 (Minister Anderson);
• Financial Indicators as at November 2010 (Minister Anderson);
• Instrument of appointment of Chief Magistrate (Minister Anderson);
• Report on Public Consultation for Proposed Variation to the Norfolk Island Plan (to allow outdoor sport and recreation facilities at the Bicentennial complex Rawson Oval) including the Norfolk Island Zoning Map with “& Outdoor Recreation facilities” included;
Minister Sheridan made statements about,-
• Activities of the Emergency Services during tropical cyclone warning; and
• BVDV Programme on the Norfolk Island herd.
Mr King, Chairman of the Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee, presented the Report of the Committee on its inquiry into the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010. Debate on the report has been adjourned. The report can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly/Committee Reports.
Outcomes for matters on the Notice Paper which were debated are as follows:
• The House agreed an amendment to the Norfolk Island Plan to change the use of the Bicentennial Complex and Rawson Hall oval to read “Public Building, Park & Outdoor Sport & Recreation Facilities”;
• Approval was given to exempt the Lions Club from payment of customs duty to the value of $246.09 on Christmas Cakes;
• A motion was passed requesting the Government to bring to the House by the May 2011 sitting a detailed written report on the desirability or otherwise of maintaining government policy which allows intrusion by government owned business on private sector commercial activities;
• A motion proposed by Mr King in respect of the policy relating to lump sum payments under the Social Services Act 1980 was debated and adjourned;
• Approval was given under the Tourist Accommodation Act 1984 to the transfer of registration of one unit from Castaway Hotel and Apartments to “Ahstyk” and of one unit from Castaway Hotel and Apartments to “Rocky Point Lodge”; the approvals are conditional on certain requirements being met;
• A motion move by Mr King at the December sitting in respect of the deregulation of telecommunications was debated and defeated;
• Debate resumed from the November sitting on the Provident (Amendment) Bill 2010. and the Bill was agreed to.
A change to the sitting pattern of the House was agreed by the majority of members with the result that the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly is scheduled for Wednesday 2 March 2011 at 10 am and thereafter at six weekly intervals. Consequent on this decision it is anticipated that the House in the next six months will sit on 2 March, 13 April, 25 May and 6 July 2011. The Norfolk Island Act 1979 provides that the Administrator shall convene a meeting of the Assembly when requested to do so by three Members of the Assembly.
Mr Robert Patch PSM, Director, Norfolk Island Section, Territories Division, returns to the Island on 23 January for further discussions. He will be joined on 27 January by Mr Steve Clay, Acting Assistant Secretary, Territories East Branch. Details of their visit will be published elsewhere.
Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 21 January 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment