Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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AUSTRALASIA RAILWAY (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) AMENDMENT BILL 2003

(This an uncorrected proof of the daily report. It is made available under the condition that it is recognised as such.)

Bills presented and read a first time.

Mr STIRLING (Deputy Chief Minister): Mr Acting Speaker, I move that the bills be now read a second time.

The purpose of the AustralAsia Railway (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill is to amend the AustralAsia Railway (Special Provisions) Act and to add further provisions to that act. The amendments relate principally to occupational crossings installed along the Alice Springs to Darwin railway to enable adjoining land-holders access across the railway for a range of activities, including stock movement.

The bill ensures that private land-holders with access, electricity and/or water easements created under section 14A use their easements in accordance with any protocols setting out procedures for rail safety declared under the act. The power to make protocols will be held jointly by the Minister for the AustralAsia Railway and the minister responsible for the administration of the Northern Territory Rail Safety Act.

The AustralAsia Railway (Special Provisions) Act recognises access, electricity and water easements in favour of private land-holders adjoining the corridor. In addition, the act requires the Registrar-General to amend the land register to recognise those easements. During construction, due to safety and construction requirements, the location of the access easements were varied. The bill creates a mechanism to amend the land register to reflect the variation of those easements.

The purpose of the AustralAsia Railway (Third Party Access) Amendment Bill is to update the AustralAsia Railway (Third Party Access) Act. The bill updates the name of the regulator of the access regime in accordance with amendments made by the South Australian parliament. I commend these bills to members.

Debate adjourned.

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