In Committees this week, hearings for the inquiry into the Government’s Sydney stadiums strategy kick off, and the two Houses propose that a new joint committee be established to monitor anti-slavery provisions in NSW. While our latest activities are summarised below, you can find further information on all current and past inquiries on our website.
Inquiry into the Sydney Stadiums strategy kicks off
On 8 June 2018, the recently established Public Works Committee held its first hearing for the inquiry into the Sydney stadiums strategy.
The committee took evidence from the NSW Office of Sport, Venues NSW, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Infrastructure NSW, the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sports Ground Trust, Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands (Centennial and Moore Park Trust) and the City of Sydney. Questioning focused on the business case in support of the strategy, the process by which the strategy was developed, and the schedule for rollout of the strategy over the coming months and years.
A second hearing will be held on 29 June 2018 at Parliament House – you can follow proceedings live on the Parliament’s website.
A joint committee to monitor anti-slavery provisions?
In March this year, the Hon Paul Green MLC (Christian Democratic Party) introduced the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 into the Legislative Council. The bill was prompted by the findings of the Select Committee on Human Trafficking, which was chaired by Mr Green.
One of the 34 recommendations to government made by the committee was the appointment of an Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner for NSW. When the bill was considered by the Council, the House agreed to an amendment that would establish a joint parliamentary committee to monitor and review the functions of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner. This and several other amendments were then considered by the Legislative Assembly, which made several additional amendments, including to the remit of the proposed parliamentary committee. In an interesting and unusual step, because there is no member of the Christian Democratic Party in the Assembly, the Premier, the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, agreed to take carriage of the bill on behalf of Mr Green when the bill was considered in the Assembly.
It is likely that the amendments proposed by the Assembly will be debated in the Council this week. If the amendments are resolved, the bill will become only the second private members’ bill to pass both Houses since the start of the Parliament in 2015.
Friday’s ‘In the House’ blog will provide an update on whether the Council agrees to these amendments.