The House got right down to business on Tuesday with three bills passed and members contributing to a condolence motion related to the recent Bondi Junction tragedy. The Council also heard personal explanations from two MLCs related to party membership and the change of political party name. Read on for more…

Personal explanation from the Hon Taylor Martin

Early in the sitting day, the Hon Taylor Martin made a personal explanation in the chamber relating to his membership of NSW Liberal Party, advising that he had received notice that he was no longer a financial member of the party and as a result is no longer part of the Opposition. Mr Martin will serve the remainder of his term in the Council as an independent member. Read Mr Martin’s statement in the Hansard record.

Personal explanation from the Hon John Ruddick

The Hon John Ruddick also made a personal explanation in the House, advising that the Liberal Democratic Party will now be known as the Libertarian Party. Read Mr Ruddick’s full statement in the Hansard record.

Condolence motion: Bondi Junction Tragedy

A condolence motion was moved by the Hon Penny Sharpe (Labor) on Tuesday, acknowledging those who lost their lives in the recent Bondi Junction tragedy. Contributions to the debate were made by members of the Opposition, the Government, Legalise Cannabis Party, The Greens, the Animal Justice Party and Independent member the Hon Mark Latham. Read the condolence motion in full and member contributions to the debate in the Hansard record.

Condolence motions, such as this one, can be moved without notice under Standing Order 78. This Standing Order allows for motions to be moved by a Minister, without notice, to express appreciation, thanks or the condolences of the House.

Passed: HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (MISCELLANEOUS) BILL 2024

The Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2024 was debated in the House on Tuesday, having been introduced in a previous sitting period. The bill proposes miscellaneous amendments to nine Acts relating to health and associated matters; and the repeal of the Health Services Amendment (Ambulance Services) Act 2015. Read more about the bill in our blog from when the bill was introduced.

Contributions to the second reading debate were made by members of the Opposition, The Greens and the Government. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record, and continued here.

When the House resolved into committee of the whole, one amendment was moved by the Hon Bronnie Taylor on behalf of the Opposition which sought to omit provisions that would have given the Secretary power to grant exemptions to certain regulations related to immunisation. This amendment was agreed to on the voices. Read the full committee of the whole proceedings in the Hansard record.

The third reading of the bill was agreed to on the voices, with the with the bill then forwarded to the Assembly for concurrence.

PASSED: JURY AMENDMENT BILL 2023

The Jury Amendment Bill 2023 also passed the Legislative Council on Tuesday. This bill was the subject of a recent Upper House inquiry and seeks to make miscellaneous amendments to the Jury Act 1977, including to implement the recommendations of a statutory review of amendments made to the Act by the Jury Amendment (Verdicts) Act 2006 and a review of indictable processes in the NSW District and Supreme Courts.

A key amendment made by the bill sought to implement a recommendation of the statutory review that the minimum period for which a jury must deliberate before a majority verdict can be returned in criminal proceedings be reduced eight to four hours. The bill also seeks to remove the requirement that a request to be excused from a jury be put in writing, making a verbal request also acceptable, and expands the test for the selection of additional jurors for particularly long or complex Supreme Court or District Court proceedings. Read more about the bill in Mr Buttigieg’s second reading speech.

Contributions to the second reading debate were made by members of the Opposition, The Greens, the Government and Independent member the Hon Rod Roberts. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record.

When the House resolved into committee of the whole:

  • Three amendments were moved by Ms Sue Higginson on behalf of The Greens. These amendments sought to maintain the minimum deliberation period for a jury of eight hours. These amendments were agreed to on division (Ayes: 21/Noes: 16)
  • One amendment was moved by Ms Abigail Boyd on behalf of The Greens. This amendment sought to facilitate more people with disabilities serving as potential jurors, with support provided to support them in their role. This amendment was negatived on division (Ayes: 5/Noes:33)

The bill’s third reading was agreed to on the voices and it was sent to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence.

PASSED: EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY AMENDMENT BILL 2024

The Emergency Services Levy Amendment Bill 2024 also passed the Council on Tuesday, after having been introduced to the House in a previous sitting period. The bill sought to amend the Emergency Services Levy Act 2017 enabling Treasurer to require information from insurers so that emergency services funding can be reformed. Read more about the bill in our blog from when the bill was introduced.

Contributions to the second reading speech were made by members of the Opposition and The Greens.  Read member contributions in full in the Hansard record.

Both the second and third readings of the bill were agreed to on the voices, with the bill then forwarded to the Assembly for concurrence.

IN COMMITTEES

Among the day’s business, Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) notified the House that the Education Committee has extended the reporting date for its inquiry into Children and young people with disability in NSW Educational settings to 17 June 2024.

The House also engaged in a ‘take note’ debate on the Law and Justice Committee’s 2023 Review of the Workers Compensation Scheme, which was tabled December 2023, and its Government response. Read the full debate in Hansard.

In addition to this, the following committee reports were tabled:

GENERAL MOTIONS

The following motions were agreed to without debate, during formal business:

REPORTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE HOUSE

Among the documents tabled and reported on Tuesday were: 

Find all documents tabled and reported in our Tabled Papers Database.  

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