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 8307 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS Pass Bills through all Stages Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Serial 130) and Public and Environmental Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Serial 129) and Utilities Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Serial 131) Ms FYLES (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended that would prevent the immediate presentation of: 1. Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Serial 130) 2. Public and Environmental Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Serial 129) 3. Utilities Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Serial 131). I move that the question be put. Motion agreed to. Madam SPEAKER: The second motionthe suspension of standing orders to allow the three government bills to be presented without notice. Is that motion agreed to? Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Are these bills going through on urgency? Is that the process we are using today? That is normally the process when there is a hurry for a bill to go through. Madam SPEAKER: My interpretation of the ministers motion is that there is an implication because they are given without notice. When we get to the actual bills, they will be done on urgency. Ms FYLES: Madam Speaker, we briefed the opposition and Independents, indicating that the bills will go through on urgency. I moved that the question be put so that we can get on with the debate of these important bills about Coronavirus and the impact on the Territory. Motion agreed to. TENANCIES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL (Serial 130) Ms FYLES (Attorney-General and Justice): Madam Speaker, I present a bill entitled the Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2020. I table a copy of the explanatory statement and a statement on compatibility with human rights as defined in section 3 of the Commonwealth Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011. I move that the bill be now read a first time. The purpose of this bill is to amend the Business Tenancies (Fair Dealings) Act 2003 and the Residential Tenancies Act 1999the Tenancy Acts. These amendments are to enable the Territorys implementation of tenancy relief measures from the National Cabinets response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. To control the spread of COVID-19, each state and territory Chief Health Officer has issued directions that limit the ability of Australians to attend work or operate businesses. As is the case nationally, as a result of these directions, many Territorians face a decline in income, loss of jobs, or forced closure or significant restrictions on their business. This in turn is creating challenges for many people to meet rental obligations for commercial and residential tenancies. We could never have imagined the Coronavirus pandemic or that a health crisis would cause such an economic emergency. As we move about our community, we see that so many people are impacted. We know the horrific impact the virus has had on the world. Waking to the news this morning, I was saddened to see that Italy has an increase of cases in some areas and there has been another outbreak in a province of China.