The first of two private members’ days in the final sitting week, Wednesday saw the House debate, amend and agree to two bills – one dealing with climate change emissions targets, and the other the creation of an offence of industrial manslaughter. Second reading debates on bills banning discrimination against sex workers, regulating puppy farms, and raising the age of criminal responsibility also took place, while a bill to introduce pill testing was negatived on division. Amidst its consideration of legislation, the House also debated four general notices and agreed to nine orders for papers. Read on for more…

Climate Change (Emissions Targets) Bill 2021

The Climate Change (Emissions Targets) Bill 2021 was introduced by Ms Sharpe (Labor) in the previous sitting week to help guide action against climate change – including through setting emission reduction targets for the state. An overview of the bill can be found in last week’s blog.

On Wednesday, the second reading debate continued and concluded. After the second reading of the bill was agreed to on division (19 ayes to 16 noes), the House resolved into committee of the whole to consider amendments, all of which were moved by The Greens:

  • Ms Faehrmann (The Greens) moved 12 amendments (negatived on the voices)
  • Ms Boyd (The Greens) moved 30 amendments (negatived on the voices)
  • Mr Shoebridge (The Greens) moved 2 amendments (negatived on the voices).

Following the committee stage, the bill was read a third time and sent on to the Legislative Assembly. You can see what members had to say during the second reading debate and in committee of the whole in the day’s Hansard record.

Pill Testing Bill 2019

On Tuesday, the second reading debate on the Pill Testing Bill 2019 resumed. Introduced by Ms Faehrmann (The Greens) in November 2019, the bill seeks to create a licensing scheme to authorise pill testing services, allowing prohibited drugs, poisons, restricted substances, addictive drugs and certain other harmful substances to be tested and their composition analysed. The bill would also allow the pill testing service to provide advice on the composition of these substances, along with counselling to anyone who uses the service. You can read our blog on the bill’s introduction, as well as Ms Faehrmann’s second reading speech in the Hansard from November 2019.

At the conclusion of the second reading debate, the bill was negatived on division (6 ayes, 32 noes). 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.

Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Sex Workers) Bill 2020

The Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Sex Workers) Bill 2020 was introduced in the Council by Ms Boyd (The Greens) last year. It would amend the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 to make it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of their current or previous occupation as a sex worker, including in contexts ranging from employment and education, through to accessing accommodation and purchasing goods and services. Learn more in Ms Boyd’s introduction of the bill in the August 2020 Hansard record.

On Wednesday, a number of members contributed to the second reading debate, including from the Opposition, The Greens, the Animal Justice Party, the Government and the Christian Democratic Party. Debate was then adjourned to a future day. See what was said in the Hansard record here.

Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill 2021

The second reading debate on the Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill 2021 also took place on Tuesday. Introduced by Ms Hurst (Animal Justice Party) in the first sitting week in October, the bill seeks to amend the Companion Animals Act 1998 to set out the actions a local council must take to rehome an animal in its care, before it may be euthanised. You can read our blog on the bill’s introduction, as well as Ms Hurst’s second reading speech in the Hansard.

Note: In October, the bill was referred to the Council’s Planning and Environment Committee for inquiry and report in early October, with the committee reporting that due to capacity constraints and the number of inquiries the committee was currently managing, it was unable to undertake an inquiry. The bill was restored to the House’s agenda (or Notice Paper) for its consideration.  

Members from The Greens, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Christian Democratic Party, and the Opposition contributed to the second reading debate, before Mr Mallard (Liberal) adjourned debate, noting that a select committee was being formed to inquire into the provisions of the bill. 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.

Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2021

On Wednesday night, the House concluded the second reading debate on Mr Searle’s (Labor) Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2021, which aims to amend the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to create two new offences of industrial manslaughter. You can read our blog on the bill’s introduction, as well as Mr Searle’s second reading speech in the Hansard.

After the second reading of the bill was agreed to on division (16 ayes to 11 noes), the House resolved into committee of the whole to consider amendments, moved by the Opposition, the Greens and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation:

  • Mr Searle (Labor) moved four amendments (agreed to on the voices)
  • Mr Shoebridge (The Greens) moved one amendment (agreed to on the voices)
  • Mr Roberts (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation) moved six amendments (agreed to on the voices).

Following the committee stage, the bill was read a third time and forwarded to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence. You can see what members had to say during the second-read debate and in committee of the whole in the day’s Hansard.

Children (Criminal Proceedings) Amendment (Age of Criminal Responsibility) Bill 2021

The final bill considered for the night was the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Amendment (Age of Criminal Responsibility) Bill 2021. This bill, introduced by Mr Shoebridge (The Greens), aims to raise the age of criminal responsibility – which is the age at which a person can be found guilty of a crime – to 14. It would also prevent a child under the age of 16 from being sentenced to imprisonment or held on remand. You can read our blog on the bill’s introduction, as well as Mr Shoebridge’s second reading speech in the Hansard.

Debate on the second reading of the bill continued, with members from The Nationals, Labor, The Greens and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation all contributing to the debate –  which you can read here – before debate was adjourned until the next sitting day.

LIST OF GENERAL MOTIONS AND ORDERS FOR PAPERS

General motions

The following general motions were debated and agreed to, unless otherwise indicated:

Orders for papers

The following orders for papers were debated and agreed to:

Leave a Reply