Visit of Australian Region Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)Steering Committee 13 to 16 April 2012

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

Visit of Australian Region Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)Steering Committee 13 to 16 April 2012

We extend a very warm welcome to –

Ms Lisa Baker MLA ,Chair OF Australian Region CWP Committee,

Member for Maylands, Western Australia Parliament

• Hon Ruth Forrest MLC, Independent Member for Murchison, Tasmanian Parliament
• Mrs Christine Fyffe MLA, Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly, Member for Evelyn, Victorian Parliament
• Hon Robyn Parker MP, New South Wales Parliament
• Ms Mary Porter MLA, ACT Parliament
• Senator Helen Polley MP, Commonwealth Parliament
• Ms Liz Cunningham MLA, Queensland Parliament

who arrived today (Friday 13 April 2012) via Sydney to hold the annual planning meeting for the CWP.  They are accompanied by Mr Andres Lomp, Australian Regional Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) and Mr Raymond Knight from the CPA Secretariat in Canberra. The Norfolk Island Parliament will be represented at the planning meeting by Acting Deputy Speaker, Mrs Rhonda Griffiths MLA; and a full report on their visit will be published in next week’s issue of Your Parliament Your Voice.

Motion of appreciation to outgoing Administrator Mr Owen Walsh

The House at its sitting on 11 April 2012 was unanimous in its support for the following motion introduced by Chief Minister the Hon David E. Buffett AM MLA

“THAT this House respectively expresses and records its appreciation of the service rendered to Norfolk Island by Owen Edward John Walsh, accompanied by Mrs Walsh, in his role as Official Secretary to the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Acting Administrator, and over the last three and a half years as Administrator of Norfolk Island. Mr Walsh enhanced the wellbeing of Norfolk Island in the performance of his statutory roles, in his Australian Government representative duties, and accompanied by Mrs Walsh, supporting and encouraging the Island’s considerable range of community activities. Mr Walsh concluded his term on the 31^st of March 2012.  This House wishes them both success and happiness as he continues his career”.

Matters brought before the Legislative Assembly on 11 April 2012

The Legislative Assembly met on Wednesday 11 April 2012 at 10 am and concluded at 4.13 pm with a suspension for lunch between 1.15 pm and 2.30 pm. 

The House rose for a period of silence to acknowledge the passing of Jennifer Joy Cook and Shirley June Fox

Answers were provided both to questions without notice and on notice and the following papers were tabled:

1)      Chief Minister, Mr Buffett - Report of the Legal Aid Advisory Committee

2)             Chief Minister, Mr Buffett - Virement of Funds Advice

3)             Chief Minister, Mr Buffett - NI Development Report – Final Report of ACIL Tasman – Dr James Fogarty

4)             Minister for Tourism, Industry & Development, Mr. Nobbs - Gaming Directors Report

5)             Minister for Community Services, Mr. Sheridan - Minister for Community Services, Mr Sheridan – Strata Title White Paper

6)             Chief Minister, Mr Buffett – Explanatory Memorandum to the Sentencing (Amendment) Bill 2012

 The following statements were made –

1)         Chief Minister, Mr Buffett extended a warm welcome to His Honour the Administrator Mr Neil Pope who has taken and to Mrs Jennifer Pope;

2)         Chief Minister, Mr Buffett reported that an independent inquiry had commenced into the allegation of misconduct by a Minister and a Member of the Public Service

3)         Minister for Community Services, Mr Sheridan advised of the engagement of Mr Anthony Gallagher as the community Counsellor

Message 26 from the Office of the Administrator was read advising that the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Employment (Amendment No. 2) Act 2011 had been assented to by His Honour the Administrator.

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

1)         A motion of appreciation to the outgoing Administrator Mr Owen Walsh was unanimously agreed to (see full text of motion above)

2)         The House agreed the appointment of Mr Graeme Faulkner as Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service for a term not exceeding 5 years

3)         Ms Carolyn Mignone O’Doherty was appointed to the Employment Conciliation Board for the period 12 April 2012 to 11 April 2015

4)         Mr Brian Thomas McGrath was appointed as a trustee under the Museum Trust Act 1987 for the period 20  April 2012 to 19 April 2014The House recommended that Mrs Melissa Ward be re-appointed as a member of the Immigration Committee for the period commencing 14 April 2012

5)         The House agreed, following the resignation of Mr Duncan Harvey Evans as a member of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Advisory Board , that Mr Alistair John Unicomb be appointed to the Advisory Board for the remainder of the term of the member replaced

6)         The House recommended the revocation of Mr Gary Dowling as the Deputy Official Trustee under the Provident Account Act 1958 and that he be appointed as the Official Trustee and further that Mrs Janis Keeping be appointed as the Deputy Official Trustee of the Provident Account

7)         The Sentencing (Amendment) Bill 2012 was introduced and adjourned on the question – That the Bill be agreed to in principle

8)         The Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2011 was debated and again adjourned on the question – That the Bill be agreed to in principle

May sitting of the Legislative Assembly

The next scheduled sitting of the Legislative Assembly is Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 10 am. The Speaker advised of her absence from the sitting

To read the Notice Paper, Programme, Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 13 April 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com