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| Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time. The Kenbi Land Trust Bill is an important step in implementing the in-principle agreement between this government and the Northern Land Council for resolution of detriment issues arising from the Kenbi Land Claim. On 30 January 2009, the Chief Minister was pleased to jointly announce with the Northern Land Council and senior traditional owners that agreement had been reached on resolution of the detriment issues arising from this long-running land claim. The agreement secured a significant part of the Cox Peninsula for the future development of Darwin, while at the same time meeting traditional owners’ aspirations for the protection of their traditional lands and the creating of economic development opportunities for Indigenous landowners. Recently, the Commonwealth has decided on areas that it wishes to continue to occupy, and commenced research and remediation of land to be granted, including its former Quail Island bombing range. On 29 June 2011, the Commonwealth government entered into a Heads of Agreement in support of the in-principle agreement between the Northern Territory and the NLC setting out timelines for grant of Kenbi which parties will use their best endeavours to meet. The arrangement will see part of the land recommended for grant by the Aboriginal Land Commissioner in 2000 granted as Aboriginal land under the provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, and part of it granted as freehold for development. This bill facilitates the grant of a third category of land to a newly established land trust, the Kenbi Land Trust. It enables land in the north west of the Cox Peninsula to be held by the Kenbi Land Trust without extinguishment of native title until such time as the land is required for development. The bill also provides for the granting of land to the Kenbi Land Trust under the provisions of the Crown Lands Act by the minister with responsibility for that act, and provides for some restrictions on dealing with the land. Because survey of the precise boundaries of the land to be granted to the Kenbi Land Trust has yet to be finalised, the bill describes the land to be granted to the Kenbi Land Trust as within the area recommended for grant by the Aboriginal Land Commissioner and it is more fully described in the regulations. I commend this bill to honourable members, and table the Explanatory Statement to accompany the bill. Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I think I understand what has happened here, and we will not make a major issue of it. However, Standing Order 177 says ‘when a bill is being read the first time the member in charge of the bill may move …’, and it reads on. The minister has not sought leave or informed the House that he is the member in charge of the bill. I am wondering if the minister has a script or a set of words in front of him which would give him that operational facility. If he does not do it, then he is in breach of standing orders. Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, at the outset I did say that at the request of, and on behalf of, the Chief Minister I present a bill titled the Kenbi Land Trust Bill 2011 (Serial 175). Hopefully, that fulfils the requirements, and answers the question asked by the member for Port Darwin. Madam SPEAKER: It is clear now that that is the case, thank you. Debate adjourned. |