It was the week’s second private members’ day on Thursday, with three new bills introduced – spanning climate change, the sale of state-owned assets, and the establishment of protected areas for koalas. Debate also resumed on the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Amendment Bill and the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill, and more than 10 orders for papers were agreed to. Read on for the details…

Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Amendment Bill 2021

On Tuesday, the second reading debate on the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Amendment Bill 2021 took place. Introduced by Mr Searle (Labor) in the previous sitting week, the bill seeks to amend the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Act 2016 to allow a commissioner of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), an assistant commissioner, or anyone holding a like position within the LECC to be eligible for reappointment or to be appointed to another office within the LECC, provided the total appointment period does not exceed 10 years. If you’re interested to learn more, you can read Mr Searle’s second reading speech, as well as our earlier blog with a recap of the bill.

At the conclusion of the second reading debate, the bill was agreed to and sent to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence. You can read more about the bill, and see what members had to say during the second reading debate, in the day’s Hansard record here.

Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2021

Debate continued on the second reading of the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2021. Introduced by Mr Searle (Labor) in May, the bill aims to amend the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to create two new offences of industrial manslaughter. For more on the bill, see Mr Searle’s second reading speech in the Hansard record here.

Members from Labor, The Greens and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation contributed to the second reading debate on Tuesday – you can read their contributions in the Hansard. After these members spoke, debate was adjourned until the next sitting day.

Great Koala Protected Area Bill 2021

The Great Koala Protected Area Bill 2021, introduced by Ms Faehrmann (The Greens), seeks to establish the ‘Great Koala Protected Area’ in the Coffs Harbour hinterland, by adding 175,000 hectares of state forest to existing protected areas on the NSW Mid-North Coast. The bill would also require the preparation of a plan of management for the area, setting out how the local koala population would be conserved, as well as prohibiting harmful works or activities. Further, it would require a transition plan to be made, to cover how workers from the forestry industry in the area would be transitioned to alternative employment consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

Ms Faehrmann’s overview of the bill can be found in the Hansard record here. At the conclusion of her second reading speech, debate on the bill was adjourned for five calendar days, as required by the standing orders.

Climate Change (Emissions Targets) Bill 2021

The Climate Change (Emissions Targets) Bill 2021 was introduced in the Council by Ms Sharpe (Labor) and seeks to address climate change in NSW. It would establish principles to guide action against climate change, including recognising that there’s a critical need to address climate change, as soon as possible. The bill also sets emission reduction targets for the state, including a 50 per cent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030, and a target of net zero emissions by the end of 2050. It also proposes to establish a Net Zero Commission to monitor and report on progress towards these reduction targets.

At the conclusion of Ms Sharpe’s second reading speech, debate on the bill was adjourned for five calendar days, as required by the standing orders. Interested in what Ms Sharpe had to say about the bill? You can read her overview of the bill in the Hansard record here.

Fiscal Responsibility Amendment (Privatisation Restrictions) Bill 2021

Mr Mookhey (Labor) introduced the Fiscal Responsibility Amendment (Privatisation Restrictions) Bill 2021. This bill aims to amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 to restrict the sale of state-owned assets. The bill would prevent the Government from selling, leasing or disposing of a state-owned asset unless the sale has been reviewed by a parliamentary committee of both Houses and then confirmed by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Mr Mookhey’s overview of the bill can be found in the Hansard record here. At the conclusion of his second reading speech, debate on the bill was adjourned for five calendar days, as required by the standing orders.

List of general motions and orders for papers

General motions:

The following general motions were debated and agreed to:

Orders for papers

The following orders for papers were debated and agreed to:

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