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
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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 8344 Attorney-General, what do you stand for? What are you here to talk about and represent if it is not the voices of the people of the Northern Territory? Yes, you and your public servants have been working very hard to address the Coronavirus and keep us safe but other very important issues have to be addressed today, if not in the foreseeable future. If you will not let us table our petitions today, then give us an indicationwill we be meeting again? Will this parliament be sitting again before the election? Do you know what? I fear not, because this government is hiding and avoiding scrutiny; avoiding hearing anything that has a negative impact on your political campaign. Shame on you! Mr McCONNELL (Stuart): Madam Speaker, I support the Opposition Leaders motion to suspend standing orders to table a legitimate thing, which we do every sittings. This seems to be a significant petition that is on topic; it is about the laws between tenants and landlords in the Territory. It would not have taken long, I suspect it would have been deferred to a committee. We need to show that we are working together on this. I admit to being angry and disappointed in the Leader of Government Business and the tirade I just had to listen to. I disrespect trivialising the fact we have nurses learning how to turn off patients life-support systems. Do not trivialise this issue; do not be disrespectful to the people in this Chamber. Members interjecting. Mr McCONNELL: You do not listen; you never listen. Here is a chance for you to listen. Do not sit back there with your high and mighty attitude. That was an attack on the people and the process in this Chamber. I respect the police officers working on our roadside stopsI have been through a number of themour nurses and health professionals, our opposition Independent members and our parliament. That was an uncalled-for attack. Another thing that piqued my interestwhen did the Leader of the Opposition ever say she hates dogs? You repeatedly say that someone hates pets. That is small-minded and stupid. It is a ridiculous way for you to exercise your office and authority over this parliament. Do not do things like that. Do not be petty and trivial. The passage of this bill is delaying the rights of people who have dogs. What are you talking about? Why are you just being nasty? Respect the parliament, the opposition members and the Independents. Let this parliament do its business properly. I support the motion to suspend the standing orders. Mrs FINOCCHIARO (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, that was the most disgusting politicisation of a global pandemic. I cannot believe what happened over the last 20 minutes. I stood in this Chamber and sought leave to present a petition. If leave had been granted, I would have said, Here is my petition, thank you. The Clerk would have done something for probably 10 to 15 seconds and it would be done. Then perhaps the Member for Araluen would have presented hers, and in approximately 30 to 45 seconds the entire process would have been completed. Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, there is no right of reply in the suspension of standing orders. The question is that the motion be agreed to. The Assembly divided. Ayes 9 Noes 15 Mr Collins Ms Ah Kit Mrs Finocchiaro Mr Bowden Mr Guyula Mr Costa Mr Higgins Ms Fyles Mrs Lambley Mr Kirby Mr McConnell Ms Lawler Mr Mills Mr McCarthy Ms Purick Ms Manison Mr Wood Ms Moss Ms Nelson Mr Paech Mr Sievers Ms Uibo