Debate on a bill allowing ministers to be summoned before parliamentary inquiries resulted in two new committee referrals on Wednesday, the latest private members’ business day in the Council. Meanwhile, several debates on the impacts of the budget were moved, a bill to prohibit certain tests and experiments in animal research was introduced, and four orders for papers were agreed to. Read on for more… 

INTRODUCED: ANIMAL RESEARCH AMENDMENT (PROHIBITION OF FORCED SWIM TESTS AND FORCED SMOKE INHALATION EXPERIMENTS) BILL 2023 

The Animal Research Amendment (Prohibition of Forced Swim Tests and Forced Smoke Inhalation Experiments) Bill 2023 was introduced by the Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party). The bill seeks to prohibit the use of forced smoke inhalation experiments and forced swim tests in the course of animal research. It does this by amending section 26 of the Animal Research Act 1985 to provide that an animal research authority must not authorise, or purport to authorise, the carrying out of either procedure.  

In her second reading speech, Ms Hurst noted that the Act currently prohibits animal research authorities from authorising certain other experiments – except in very limited circumstances, such as on the condition of approval from both the relevant animal care and ethics committee and the minister. She said that when it comes to forced swim and smoke inhalation tests, such experiments could never be authorised by an animal research authority, nor approved by an animal care and ethics committee.  

Ms Hurst noted that the use of animal experimentation had been illuminated during a the 2021/2022 Health Committee inquiry exploring the use of primates and other animals in medical research in NSW, with these two procedures the focus of particular attention. Further details of the inquiry are available on the inquiry website, and further details of the bill are available in Ms Hurst’s full second reading speech.  

After its introduction, debate on the bill was then adjourned for five calendar days according to standing order. 

DEBATED: PARLIAMENTARY EVIDENCE AMENDMENT (MINISTERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY) BILL 2023 

Debate resumed on the Parliamentary Evidence Amendment (Ministerial Accountability) Bill 2023, which had been introduced during an earlier sitting by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Damien Tudehope. In short, the bill seeks to amend the Parliamentary Evidence Act 1901 to provide that Ministers of the Crown may be summoned to attend and give evidence before a House of Parliament or a committee of Parliament. See our previous blog entry for a full explanation.  

During the second reading debate, contributions were made by members of the Government and The Greens, as well as the Hon Mark Latham (Independent). During the debate, Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) moved an amendment to the motion “That this bill be now read a second time”, to instead refer the bill to the Council’s Public Accountability and Works Committee for inquiry and report by 27 November 2023. The Hon Peter Primrose (Government) subsequently moved an amendment to Ms Boyd’s amendment, to additionally refer the provisions of the Parliamentary Evidence Act 1901 to the Privileges Committee for inquiry and report, with a view to identifying reforms to ensure the Act is fit for purpose and modernised, including in relation to the summoning of witnesses. 

Both Mr Primrose and Ms Boyd’s amendments were agreed to on the voices, effectively creating two new committee inquiries. See the full proceedings in the Hansard record, and look out for further information on the inquiries on the Parliament’s website – the inquiry into the bill here and the inquiry into the provisions of the Act here.  

GENERAL MOTIONS 

The following motions were debated in the House over the course of the day: 

Topic of motion (click link for details) Moved by Agreed to? 
Impact of the 2023-2024 budget on electrical contracts at public schools The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Liberal) Negatived, as amended 
Hunting and fishing practices The Hon Robert Borsak (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers) Agreed to 
Answer provided by the Honourable Yasmin Cately MP The Hon Rod Roberts (Independent) Agreed to 
Impact of the 2023-2024 budget on public sector wages The Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor) Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 20 / Noes: 12) 
Impact of the 2023-204 budget on cost of living (with the debate also continued in the Hansard record here) The Hon Scott Farlow (Liberal) Negatived 
Australia Day The Hon Tanya Mihailuk (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation) Negatived, as amended, on division (Ayes: 17 / Noes: 18) 
Building Better Homes campaign Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) Negatived 
Noel Sydney funding The Hon Susan Carter (Liberal) Negatived, on division (Ayes: 12 / Noes: 21) 
Impact of the 2023-24 budget on regional NSW The Hon Emily Suvaal (Labor) Debate interrupted by adjournment of the House 

In addition to the above motions debated in the chamber, the following motions were agreed to without debate, during the morning’s formal business: 

ORDERS FOR PAPERS 

Request (click link for details) Moved by Agreed to? Due date 
Papers relating to 2023-2024 budget finances The Hon Damien Tudehope (Liberal) Agreed to during formal business 11 October 2023 
Papers relating to the state budget The Hon Damien Tudehope (Liberal) Agreed to during formal business 11 October 2023 
Papers relating to Questions on Notice submitted by the Honourable Sam Farraway MLC The Hon Sam Farraway (Liberal) Agreed to, as amended, on division (Ayes: 20 / Noes: 15) (with the debate also continued in the Hansard record here) 11 October 2023 
Papers relating to the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) Agreed to on division (Ayes: 20 / Noes: 15) 18 October 2023 

DOCUMENTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE HOUSE 

Among the papers tabled on Wednesday were a range of statutory reports relating to state-owned corporations. Find all documents tabled and reported in our Tabled Papers Database. 

Leave a Reply