Attorney-General Natasha Fyles defends decision to bypass debate at special parliament sitting
ATTORNEY-GENERAL Natasha Fyles has defended the government’s decision to bypass debate when parliament resumes on Friday to pass key coronavirus legislation, insisting it had to be done due to ‘extraordinary’ circumstances.
Northern Territory
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL Natasha Fyles has defended the government’s decision to bypass debate when parliament resumes tomorrow to pass key coronavirus legislation, insisting it had to be done due to “extraordinary” circumstances.
Minister Fyles said there will be no question time when the NT Legislative Assembly resumes for a special sitting on Friday to consider urgent legislation.
“Tomorrow is an extraordinary day,” she said.
The Government will move motions to formalise the mandatory quarantine arrangements currently in place, bring in power and water rate discount legislation and pass tough new penalties for grubs who maliciously cough or spit on frontline workers.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro criticised the move to cancel question time, slamming it as a deliberate decision to avoid answering tough questions.
Minister Fyles said there would be an opportunity for the Opposition, Territory Alliance and independent MLAs to scrutinise the legislation later during the committee stage.
“There will be the committee stage that can go on for as long as the Opposition and Independents would like it to,” she said.
“As I said, we have been providing those briefings to them, we’ve provided copies of the bills today.
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“We certainly will work through the details of those bills for them, that have been prepared by parliamentary counsel.
“Advice has been sought from the Solicitor General around this legislation.
“So we certainly welcome to scrutiny around the legislation but is an extraordinary day.
“We’ll be also be passing that motion for the Public Accounts Committee to have the further scrutiny around coronavirus and how as a government we’re responding.”
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When parliament resumes on Friday, MLAs will not be required to attend in person and will be allowed to vote over the phone.
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