Transport Administration Amendment (Sydney Metro) Bill 2018

House of origin: Legislative Assembly

The Bill amends the Transport Administration Act 1988 to facilitate the development, implementation and operation of a metro in Sydney by constituting Sydney Metro as a corporation which is a NSW Government agency. The bill also provides generally for the corporation’s management and functions and makes consequential amendments to other legislation.

The House received the bill from the Assembly and it was read a first time on Wednesday 2 May 2018. Debate on the second reading commenced on Tuesday 15 May 2018 (see Hansard to follow the debate). In his second reading speech the Parliamentary Secretary noted that the corporation will be subject to appropriate accountability mechanisms including annual audits by the New South Wales Auditor-General and processes under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. The Opposition opposed the bill for various reasons including the concern that the creation of Sydney Metro as a statutory corporation may be intended to facilitate the sell-off of the corporation to the private sector in the future.

Debate on the bill was interrupted for Question Time.

Selection of Bills Committee

The Selection of Bills Committee was appointed in late 2017 following a recommendation of the Select Committee on the Legislative Council Committee System. The committee, which is operating on a trial basis for 2018, considers all bills introduced into the Council or received from the Assembly. This week, following the regular Tuesday lunchtime meeting of the committee, the chair (Mrs Maclaren-Jones), moved a motion that none of the bills considered this week be referred for inquiry and report. Mr Shoebridge then moved an amendment to the chair’s motion which, if agreed to, would have resulted in the provisions of the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2018 being referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for inquiry and report. All parties contributed to debate on the motion, which included some brief contributions touching on the interesting question of the powers of the NSW Parliament in relation to national uniform legislation (see Hansard for details of the debate). The amendment was negatived on division (19:21) and the bill was not referred to the Law and Justice Committee.

Committee reports

The House took note of several committee reports. See Hansard for details of the debate.

Adjournment debate

The following members spoke to the adjournment debate:

  • Dr Phelps – Operation Acacia
  • Mr Secord – Tweed Hospital Site
  • Revd Mr Nile – United States Embassy Jerusalem
  • Mr Khan – Religious Freedom
  • Mr Wong – Anzac Day Commemorations
  • Mr Brown – Drought Assistance
  • Mr Moselmane – Ramadan Celebrations.

See Hansard for details of the debate.