Opposition Portfolio Responsibilities

Mrs CARLSON (Chair of Legislative Scrutiny Committee): Madam Speaker, I table the Legislative Scrutiny Committee Report Inquiry into Firearms Amendment Bill 2026 and the associated minutes of the proceedings. Pursuant to Standing Order 200(4), the report was sent to the Speaker and made public on 30 April 2026.

This report detailed the committee’s findings regarding its consideration of the Firearms Amendment Bill 2026. Amending the Firearms Act 1977, the Bill seeks to implement specific reforms—proposal 5A of the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce—saying yes to business report which recommended the Northern Territory government, as part of implementing the national firearms register, work with industry to identify options to allow renewal of commercial firearm licences.

The committee received eight written submissions to its inquiry. The committee also held a public briefing in relation to the Bill, attended by representatives of the Northern Territory Police Force.

All submissions were generally supportive of the policy intent of the Bill. Some concerns were raised and clarification was sought in relation to:

• Safeguards on certain powers given to the Commissioner of Police

• Operational matter relating to licences continuing to be in force beyond their expiry

• Operational matter concerning the newly inserted offence provisions relating to digital blueprint from manufacturer of firearms

• Guidance available to firearm dealers for the sale of ammunition to interstate licence holders

• Guidance available on the Bill’s transitional matters.

Following examination of the Bill, committee is of the view that the Assembly should pass the Bill without amendment. However, the committee makes several recommendations to amend the Bill’s explanatory statement to ensure the issues raised in submissions are appropriately addressed and explanatory materials are detailed and accurate.

On behalf of the committee I thank all those who made submissions to the inquiry. The committee also thanks the Northern Territory Police Force members who attended the public briefings and provided responses to the committee’s written questions. Finally, I thank my fellow committee members for their bipartisan commitment to the legislative scrutiny.

I commend the report to the Assembly.

Legislative Scrutiny Committee Report – Inquiry into Heritage Amendment Bill 2026, Serial 60

Mrs CARLSON (Chair of Legislation Scrutiny Committee): Madam Speaker, I table the Legislative Scrutiny Committee report inquiry into the Heritage Amendment Bill 2026 and the associated minutes of the proceedings. Pursuant to Standing Order 200(4), the report was sent to the Speaker and made public on 30 April 2026.

This report details the committee’s findings regarding its examination of the Heritage Amendment Bill 2026. Amending the Heritage Act 2011, the Bill seeks to improve clarity, procedural fairness and confidence in the Territory’s heritage system.

The committee received 10 submissions to its inquiry, all of which were generally supportive of the policy intent of the Bill. However, concerns were raised in relation to several of the proposed amendments as currently drafted. Clarification was also sought regarding the intended operation of some clauses and a number of the submissions put forward suggestions as to how the Bill might be improved.

Following its examination of the Bill and consideration of the evidence received the committee has recommended that the Assembly pass the Bill with the proposed amendments as set out in recommendations 2 and 3.

Submitters raised concerns in relation to a new power for the minister to delegate any of their powers and functions under the Heritage Act to a person other than the Heritage Council or a member of the Heritage Council. To ensure the minister’s powers are appropriately delegated, the committee considered that the Bill should be amended to require the delegate to be suitably qualified and an experienced person.

To clarify its intention, the committee further recommended the Bill be amended to expressly state the timeframe for a suite of submissions during public consultation on the heritage significance of a place or object may be extended beyond 28 days.

On behalf of the committee, I thank all those who provided submissions to the committee’s inquiry. The committee also thanks the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment for its briefing to the committee and providing advice regarding issues raised in submissions. I also thank my fellow committee members for their bipartisan commitment to the legislative review process.

Madam Speaker, I commend the report to the Assembly.

Legislative Scrutiny Committee Report on the Inquiry into the Mineral Titles Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

Mrs CARLSON (Chair of Legislative Scrutiny Committee): Madam Speaker, I table the report from the Legislative Scrutiny Committee’s report, Inquiry into the Mineral Titles Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, and associated minutes of proceedings. Pursuant to Standing Order 200(4), the report was sent to the Speaker and was made public on 30 April 2026.

This report details the committee’s findings regarding its consideration of the Mineral Titles Legislation Amendment Bill 2026. Amending the Mineral Titles Act 2010, the Mineral Titles Regulations 2011, the Environment Protection Act 2019 and the Environment Protection Regulations 2020, the Bill seeks to introduce four new mineral leases, create a fossicking permit for recreational fossicking and streamline the mineral lease regulatory framework.

The committee received nine written submissions to its inquiry and held a public briefing on the Bill from the Department of Mining and Energy. Support for the Bill was split between stakeholders; however, following careful consideration of the Bill and the advice from the Department of Mining and Energy regarding the concerns of the stakeholders, the committee is of the view that the Assembly should pass the Bill with the proposed amendments as set out in the recommendations.

Advice from the department provided the committee clarity in relation to stakeholder concerns regarding the interaction of the Bill with other legislation, including the Aboriginal Land Act 1978, the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and the Native Title Act 1993. The committee is satisfied by the department’s advice that the proposed mineral leases for small-scale mining, tourist fossicking and fossicking will be subject to the right to negotiate under the Native Title Act 1993.

Additionally, the committee was assured that part two of the Aboriginal Land Act 1978 provides an appropriate mechanism for access to Aboriginal land for the purposes of preliminary exploration and fossicking. Further, the committee heard satisfactory advice that the protections of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 will continue to apply to authorise activities by title holders.

The committee’s recommendations seek to address issues of regulatory clarity raised by stakeholders, identified by the committee. Some of these issues are addressed by recommendations that the explanatory statement be amended to more clearly explain the new mineral leases for small-scale mining, tourist fossicking and fossicking, bulk sampling application and approval processes and processing of materials by mechanical and non-mechanical means.

Additionally, the committee recommends amendments to the Bill as set out in recommendations 8 to 15. These include the removal of the same title holder restrictions in proposed section 57, a reduction in the number of mineral exploration licences necessary to be eligible for an exploration project area in proposed regulation 80, and typographical amendments to rectify drafting errors in the Bill.

On behalf of the committee, I thank all those who made those submissions to the inquiry. The committee also thanks the Department of Mining and Energy which briefed the committee on the Bill and provided comprehensive responses to the written questions.

I also thank my fellow committee members for their bipartisan commitment to legislative scrutiny.

I commend the report to the Assembly.

Legislative Scrutiny Committee Report on the Inquiry into the Pipelines and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Industry Development) Bill 2026

Mrs CARLSON (Chair of Legislative Scrutiny Committee): Madam Speaker, I table the Legislative Scrutiny Committee report Inquiry into the Pipelines and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Industry

Development) Bill 2026 and the associated minutes of the proceedings. Pursuant to Standing Order 200(4), the report was sent to the Speaker and made public on 30 April 2026.

This report details the committee’s findings regarding its examination of the Pipelines and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Industry Development) Bill 2026.

Amending the Petroleum Act 1984, Energy Pipelines Act 1981 and Petroleum Submerged Lands Act 1981, the Bill seeks to promote and enable industry development in key onshore gas projects in the Beetaloo Sub-basin and support and facilitate broader carbon capture and storage initiatives by allowing carbon dioxide to be transmitted through pipelines in the Northern Territory to offshore areas for permanent storage in greenhouse gas storage locations within Commonwealth waters. To support these objectives the Bill introduces a new compliance framework, including provisions for the appointment of inspectors with expanded powers, including using reasonable force, as well as powers for the chief executive officer to issue compliance directions and stop-work notices and to delegate these powers to a person.

Following its examination of the Bill the view of the committee is that the Assembly should pass the Bill, subject to amendments in the Bill and the explanatory statement. In particular, the committee considers it essential that inspectors possess appropriate skills, training and experience, and that the scope of their powers is clearly defined. While recognising the need for flexibility in appointments, the committee recommends that the explanatory statement be amended to provide greater detail regarding qualifications required for the inspectors and to clarify that any use of force is limited to reasonable force against things, not persons.

The committee also examined provisions enabling the delegation of significant administrative powers by the chief executive officer and the minister. Whilst acknowledging that such delegations are necessary for administrative efficiency, the committee recommends that the Bill be amended to ensure that these powers may be delegated only to suitably qualified and experienced persons.

On behalf of the committee, I thank all those who made submissions to the inquiry. The committee also thanks the Department of Mining and Energy which briefed the committee on the Bill and provided comprehensive responses to the questions.

I thank my fellow committee members for their bipartisan commitment to the legislative review process.

I commend this report to the Assembly.

Legislative Scrutiny Committee Report on the Inquiry into the Criminal Procedure Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

Mrs CARLSON (Chair of Legislative Scrutiny Committee): Madam Speaker, I table the Legislative Scrutiny Committee report Inquiry into the Criminal Procedure Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 and the associated minutes of the proceedings. Pursuant to Standing Order 200(4), the report was sent to the Speaker and made public on 30 April 2026.

This report details the committee’s findings regarding the Criminal Procedure Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.

The Bill amends the Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 and other related justice legislation to commence reforms to streamline criminal matters within the Local Court. Key amendments include providing for greater use of audiovisual links for witnesses and detained defendants, creating a presumption of joinder for domestic violence matters to be heard together and providing police flexibility to grant or refuse bail when a person is rested on a warrant.

The committee received six written submissions to its Inquiry. Whilst submitters generally supported the passage of the Bill, the committee received some submissions that raised concerns about the expanded use of audiovisual link. These concerns related to the adequacy of existing audiovisual link facilities, and the potential impact the expanded use of audiovisual may have on certain detained defendants, including those with communication difficulties.

Following its examination of the Bill, the view of the committee is that the Assembly should pass the Bill without amendment. However, the committee recommends that a post-implementation review be conducted after 12 months to assess the impact of proposed section 49EB on detained defendants with communication difficulties, and the adequacy of necessary facilities to support the effective use of audiovisual link.

On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank all those that made submissions to the inquiry. The committee also thanks the Attorney-General’s Department who briefed the committee on the Bill and provided comprehensive responses to written questions. I would also like to thank my fellow committee members for their bipartisan commitment to the legislative review process.

I commend the report to the Assembly.

Legislative Scrutiny Committee Report – Inquiry into Liquor Legislation Amendment (Fast Track Approvals) Bill 2026 (Serial 62)

Mrs CARLSON (Chair of Legislation Scrutiny Committee): Madam Speaker, I table the Legislative Scrutiny Committee report inquiry into the Liquor Legislation Amendment (Fast Track Approvals) Bill 2026 and the associated minutes of proceedings. Pursuant to Standing Order 200(4) the report was sent to the Speaker and made public on 30 April 2026.

This report details the committee’s findings regarding the consideration of the Liquor Legislation Amendment (Fast Track Approvals) Bill 2026. Amending the Liquor Act 2019, Liquor Regulations 2019 and the Liquor Commission Act 2018, the Bill seeks to implement specific reform proposals outlined in the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce’s Saying ‘Yes” to Business report to improve regulatory efficiency in the liquor licensing system, while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

The committee received 11 written submissions to its inquiry and the committee held a public briefing in relation to the Bill attended by the Department of Tourism and Hospitality. The committee received mixed views with four submissions supporting passage of the Bill in full or with proposed amendments. The remaining seven submissions highlighted concerns or did not support passage of the Bill.

Submitter concerns related mainly to the newly introduced low-risk liquor application framework which exempts low risk applications from the requirement to meet the public interest and community impact requirements of the Liquor Act 2019 and exempts applicants from the Act’s public notice requirements. Several submissions raised concerns that the exclusions afforded to low-risk applications could increase alcohol harms.

Following its examination of the Bill and evidence presented, the view of the committee is that the Assembly should pass the Bill without amendment. However, to address stakeholder concerns, the committee recommends that:

• Post-implementation reviews be conducted within 24 months of commencement, to assess the impacts of the low-risk application framework on key stakeholders and the community and the operation of a fit and proper person test

• The committee also recommended the Bill’s Explanatory Statement be amended to ensure it is sufficiently detailed and accurate and additional guidance is published on factors the Director of Liquor Licensing may consider in determining whether to progress an application as low-risk to ensure there is consistency and transparency in decision-making.

On behalf of the committee, I thank all those who made submissions to the inquiry. The committee thanks the department staff who attended the public hearing and provided responses to the committee’s written questions.

I thank my fellow committee members for their bipartisan commitment to legislative scrutiny.

I commend the report to the Assembly.

Legislative Scrutiny Committee Report on the Inquiry into the Racing and Wagering Amendment Bill 2026