The House got right down to business on Tuesday passing three bills, including one amending Acts in the Better Regulation and Fair Trading portfolios, and one establishing an insurance program for organisations providing out-of-home care and youth homelessness services. The House also heard the valedictory speech of Nationals MLC the Hon Bronnie Taylor. Read on for more…
VALEDICTORY SPEECH: THE HON BRONNIE TAYLOR
After nine years as a member of the Legislative Council, on Tuesday the House heard the valedictory speech of the Hon Bronnie Taylor (Nationals). During her speech Mrs Taylor shared some experiences from her time in the Council and thanked colleagues and staff. The public gallery was full friends, family and supporters in attendance for her speech.
First elected in 2015, Mrs Taylor served as the Minister for Women, Minister for Regional Health and Minister for Mental Health in the previous government and worked across many committees during her time as an MLC. Read Mrs Taylor’s speech in full in the Hansard record.
PASSED: OMBUDSMAN AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2024
The Ombudsman and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 was back in the Legislative Council on Tuesday. This bill seeks to make miscellaneous amendments to the Ombudsman Act 1974 and the Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993, and would also repeal the Ombudsman Regulation 2016. Read more about this bill in our previous blog.
The bill had passed the Legislative Council with amendments on a previous sitting day, and was then sent to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence. During the Assembly’s consideration of the bill at this stage, it was further amended.
On Tuesday, the House resolved into committee of the whole for consideration of the amendment made in the Assembly. Read the full committee of the whole proceedings in the Hansard record.
The House agreed to the amendment on the voices, with the bill then returned to the Assembly ready for the Governor’s assent.
PASSED: BETTER REGULATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (MISC) BILL 2024
The Better Regulation Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2024 passed the Legislative Council on Tuesday. The bill seeks to amend various Acts and regulations administered by the Minister for Customer Services and Digital Government, the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading and the Minister for Building. Read more about the bill in our previous blog.
During the second reading debate, contributions were made by members of the Opposition, the Government and The Greens. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record, and continued here.
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.
PASSED: NSW SELF INSURANCE CORPORATION AMENDMENT (SPECIAL LIABILITY INSURANCE) BILL 2024
The NSW Self Insurance Corporation Amendment (Special Liability Insurance) Bill 2024 also passed the Legislative Council on Tuesday after having passed the Assembly earlier in the day. This bill amends the NSW Self Insurance Corporation Act 2004 to establish an insurance scheme for out-of-home care and youth homelessness services to cover physical or sexual abuse claims.
In his second reading speech, the Hon Mark Buttigieg explained that around 150 non-government organisations (NGOs) provide out-of-home care support and homeless accommodation services to young people in NSW. These NGOs are contracted via the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to provide these services. Since most commercial insurers have withdrawn public liability insurance for physical and sexual abuse due to a significant increase in claims since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, these NGOs have been relying on a short‑term indemnity scheme developed by DCJ to fill the gap. This bill offers a long-term solution for service providers through the creation of a government-backed insurance scheme. The bill amends the functions of the Self Insurance Corporation so that they will now provide special liability insurance to persons who provide out-of-home care and youth homelessness services under contract with the Crown. It also establishes a Special Liability Insurance Fund for special liability insurance in the Special Deposits Account. Read more about the bill in Mr Buttigieg’s second reading speech.
During the second reading debate, contributions were made by members of the Opposition, The Greens and the Government. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record.
Both the second and third readings of the bill were agreed to on the voices, the bill was then returned to the Legislative Assembly, ready for the Governor’s assent.
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were agreed to without debate, during the morning’s formal business:
- Attract Connect Stay, Glen Innes, moved by Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens)
- Safe Waters Community Care, moved by the Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal)
- South Coast Community Cabinet, also moved by Mrs Ward
- Service of Mr Micky Pesic, moved by the Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor)
- Tamworth Family Support Service, moved by Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens)
- Moree Sports Health Arts and Education Academy, also moved by Ms Boyd
- KinHub Community Hub, also moved by Ms Boyd
IN COMMITTEES
During the day’s take note debate on committee reports, the House heard debates on the following committee reports:
- Birth Trauma, a report of the Select Committee on Birth Trauma dated May 2024
- NSW Government’s use and management of consulting services, a report of the Public Accountability and Works Committee dated May 2024
- Equity, accessibility and appropriate delivery of outpatient and community mental health care in New South Wales, a report of the Health Committee dated June 2024
Hi, thank you very much for the update
It’s always a good read.
Regards,
Mona