The House debated a motion to refer the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 to a committee for inquiry, and members continued to debate committee reports tabled in the last Parliament.

Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019

The second reading debate on the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill resumed in the Assembly this week. The bill, which was introduced by Alex Greenwich, an Independent member from the Legislative Assembly, seeks to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales. If it passes the Assembly it will be sent to the Council where it will be debated and voted on.

In the meanwhile, the House agreed to establish an inquiry into the bill to be conducted by the Standing Committee on Social Issues with a reporting date of 20 August 2019. Although there was disagreement among members about the timeframe, with Revd Mr Nile seeking to extend the date until November 2019. The House divided and Revd Mr Nile’s amendment was defeated (5:33). See Hansard for a transcript of the debate.

Debate on the bill continues in the Assembly.

Committee reports

A number of members contributed to the take note debates of the following two committee reports tabled in the last Parliament: Portfolio Committee No. 2 – Health report on the Implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Provision of Disability Services in NSW, and Portfolio Committee No. 5 – Industry and Transport report on the Sustainability of the Dairy Industry in New South Wales.

Adjournment debate

The following members spoke to the adjournment debate: