In a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment, the first Legislative Council inquiry for the 58th Parliament was agreed to on Tuesday! Meanwhile, two bills were debated and another of the Upper House’s newest members delivered their first speech in the chamber. Read on to learn more…
THE FIRST COUNCIL INQUIRY FOR 2023 (AND OTHER COMMITTEE BUSINESS)
Following the tabling of the Selection of Bills Committee’s second report for the parliamentary session, the House agreed to the report’s recommendation that the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Housing and Productivity Contributions) Bill 2023 be referred to the Council’s Planning and Environment portfolio committee for inquiry and report.
You can find this and other reports of the Selection of Bills Committee on the Parliament’s website. Look out for further details on this and future Upper House inquiries, which are reported in the Council’s social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). An ongoing list of inquiries is also available here.
Further in relation to committees and inquiries:
- A number of announcements were made in the House relating to committee membership. The details of all Council committees can always be found in the list of committees on the Parliament’s website.
- As also happened on Wednesday last week, under standing order 240, the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council was called on to provide an explanation as to why government responses to four committee reports have not been received within the three-month deadline. Ms Sharpe again advised the House that, while there is a difference in view between the Executive and the Legislative Council as to the effect of standing order 240, the Government has agreed to voluntarily provide responses to the relevant reports.
PASSED: STATUTE LAW (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 2023
The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 was introduced in the Council by Minister John Graham in the previous sitting week to make a suite of minor amendments to a number of different Acts. Like the many statute law bills dealing with ‘miscellaneous provisions’ that have come before, the bill’s changes ensure the state’s statute book remains current and accurate – making minor policy changes, repealing redundant provisions, and making corrections and updates as required.
With the bill introduced to the House last Thursday, Tuesday’s second reading debate saw contributions from members of the Opposition, the Government, the Animal Justice Party and The Greens.
After the second reading was agreed to on the voices, the House resolved into committee of the whole to consider 6 Government amendments moved by Minister Graham, all of which were agreed to on the voices. During debate, Minister Graham noted the amendments reflected matters raised during consultation on the bill with the Opposition and Crossbench.
With the third reading agreed to, the bill as amended was sent on to the Legislative Assembly.
FIRST SPEECH OF THE HON EMILY SUVAAL
Another of the House’s 11 new members, the Hon Emily Suvaal (Labor) gave her first speech in the Legislative Council chamber on Tuesday evening, after being sworn in during Opening of Parliament proceedings earlier in May.
A first speech in Parliament is a significant occasion, where colleagues and special guests gather in the chamber to hear a member speak to their background, values and ambitions. You can read Ms Suvaal’s speech in the Hansard record.
DEBATED: CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT (SYDNEY WATER AND HUNER WATER) BILL 2023
Following Ms Suvaal’s first speech, the House returned to its ongoing ‘address in reply’ debate following the Lieutenant-Governor’s Opening of Parliament speech, until the Constitution Amendment (Sydney Water and Hunter Water) Bill 2023 arrived from the Legislative Assembly – having passed the other House that evening. The bill was introduced in the Council by Minister Rose Jackson.
The bill would amend the Constitution Act 1902 to ensure continued public ownership of the Sydney Water Corporation and the Hunter Water Corporation, and their main undertakings. These include storage or supply of water; provision of sewerage services; provision of stormwater drainage systems; and disposal of waste water. Currently, under the State Owned Corporations Act, the sale or disposal of Sydney Water and Hunter Water’s main undertakings would require written approval from the Treasurer and Finance Minister. Under this bill, though, such a sale or disposal could only be authorised by an Act of Parliament.
The bill does not seek to restrict the utilities’ day-to-day operations or ability to enter commercial agreements (for example, disposing of surplus land or obsolete equipment), provided the main undertakings remain in public ownership.
As the clock ticked closer to 10pm, there was time for the Hon Damien Tudehope to be the first contributor to the second reading debate, linked in the Hansard record above. Proceedings were then interrupted for the hard adjournment. Stay tuned for more.
COMMITTEE REPORTS – TAKE NOTE DEBATES
‘Take note’ debates for two committee reports from the last parliamentary session took place on Tuesday. See the links below for the full overviews in the Hansard record:
- Teacher shortages and education outcomes in New South Wales (dated February 2023, debate continued from earlier this month)
- Appointment of Mr John Barilaro as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas: Interim report (dated February 2023)
REPORTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE THOUSE
One statutory report was tabled by the President in the House on Tuesday: More than shelter – outstanding actions to improve the response to children presenting alone to homelessness services (a May 2023 special report of the NSW Ombudsman).
The Clerk also announced receipt of the Statutory Review of the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 (a March 2023 report of the Department of Customer Service).
A full list of other reports received and tabled can be found in the Tabled Papers Database.
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