In this week’s ‘In Committee’s’ update, committees hold an inquiry into the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill, scrutinise new rules for music festivals, take evidence from residents of the Mascot Towers and others as part of the Building Standards inquiry, commence hearings for the inquiry into NSW koala populations.
As always, you can find more information on these and other inquiries on the Parliament’s website.
Report on the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill tabled today
This afternoon the Standing Committee on Social Issues tabled its report on the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill. The bill was the subject of lengthy debate in the Legislative Assembly and extensive media commentary prior to its referral to the committee for an inquiry during the last sitting week. The committee received over 13,000 submissions to the inquiry and held hearings over three days. The committee’s report is expected to inform debate on the bill in the Legislative Council, which is expected to commence today. You can follow proceedings on the bill and live debate in the House here from 2.30 pm.
New rules for musical festivals under the spotlight
On 13 August the Regulation Committee’s held its first and only hearing in Sydney for its inquiry into Music Festival Licensing Regulations where the committee heard from local government representatives, industry stakeholders, organisations specialising in drug and alcohol use and representatives from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation and the relevant NSW Government departments. The committee are due to report by 29 August 2019.
Mascot Towers residents speak out to Building Standards inquiry
Last week the Public Accountability Committee held its first public hearings for the inquiry into the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes. The hearings began on Monday with moving evidence from homeowners in Mascot Towers, one of several high profile buildings evacuated as a result of building defects. Other witnesses included the new Building Commissioner, who had been in the role for just two days when he gave evidence on Friday.
The committee will hold its third public hearing next week on Tuesday 27 August.
The list of witnesses for next Tuesday and the transcript of last Friday’s hearing will be published on the committee’s website.
Stakeholders call for action to protect NSW’s koala population
Portfolio Committee No. 7 also kicked off hearings last week for the inquiry into koala populations and habitat in New South Wales. The committee heard evidence from key government agencies, Forestry Corporation, academics and a range of environmental advocacy groups including the Nature Conservation Council, the National Parks Association, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), WIRES, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Total Environment Centre and the Environmental Defenders Office NSW.
The committee will hold additional hearings and site visits, the next of which are expected in October – details of future hearings will be published on the committee’s website as they become available. The committee is due to report by 15 June 2020.