Debates and Questions - Day 1 - 24 April 2020
Parliamentary Record 27
Debates and Questions for 13th Assembly 2019 - 2020; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 13th Assembly 2016 - 2020
2020-04-24
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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Debates and Questions
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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DEBATES AND QUESTIONS Friday 24 April 2020 8327 It is very disappointing. It should be extremely disappointing for Territorians who might be watching parliament today to realise that this is not a place of scrutiny, openness and transparency that provides greater insight into government and allow Territorians to understand how their moneyit is not your money, it is not Michael Gunners governments money, it is Territorians money that we are playing with, using and allocating to different things. Territorians have a right to know what is happening. But no, that will not happen today. We have three bills being pushed through on urgency. Like most Territorians, I find this process extremely disappointing and unacceptable. We are not having Question Time, have not been given the opportunity to properly scrutinise these bills and we had a 10-minute briefing overnight. I note the Treasurer, who has an urgent bill up for debate later today, gave us her explanatory notes and the piece of legislation but the Minister for Health did not give her explanatory notes. It is quite a sizeable bill, with approximately 20 pages and no explanatory notes. We were given this information about midday yesterday. We had some time to look at the legislation, but it would have made it easier for us to look over legislation in light of the points made in her explanatory notes. Of course, you do not want to be scrutinised so why would you give us the explanatory notes? There is no commitment to transparency or good process. It is about this government trying to get away with whatever it can over the next 120 days in the hope that, through their goodwill and positivity of how this government has managed the pandemic, they might get back in. That is not the way this place should function; it is disappointing. I look forward to the debate and the committee-stage functions of this bill. Madam SPEAKER: Member for Arnhem, do you wish to contribute to this debate? Ms UIBO: No, Madam Speaker. Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, do you wish to contribute to this debate? Mr McCARTHY: No, Madam Speaker. Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, do you wish to contribute to this debate? Ms WAKEFIELD: No, Madam Speaker. Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, do you wish to contribute to this debate? Ms AH KIT: No, Madam Speaker. Madam SPEAKER: Member for Namatjira, do you wish to contribute to this debate? Mr PAECH: No, Madam Speaker. Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nhulunbuy, do you wish to contribute to this debate? The member is listening, he is not able to be heard on the phone. Ms FYLES (Attorney-General and Justice): Madam Speaker, we have implemented a number of strong measures for the Coronavirus response and will continue to do whatever it takes to keep Territorians safe. We moved quickly on measures such as mandatory quarantine periods, effectively closing our borders. It is because of these strong measures and listening to the advice of health professionals that we have been able to, as the Chief Health Officer says, create one of the safest and most unique places in Australia and the world. It is important that Territorians do not become complacent, we need to maintain our strong measures. In my opening speech I spoke about outbreaks in Italy and a province in China. There is no cure or vaccine for the Coronavirus and there are no guarantees. We will do whatever it takes to keep Territorians safe. We are here today to pass these bills and yes, they are on urgency. I acknowledge the Parliamentary Counsel, the department staff and the legal advisors. They have been working around the clock to prepare this legislation.