It was private members’ day on Wednesday in the Legislative Council and the House negatived three private members’ bills: one related to a proposed Independent Office of Animal Welfare, one related to coal seam gas mining in the Liverpool Plains and one to disallowing the Transport Oriented Development program. The House also agreed to adopt three new sessional orders. Read on for more…
PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT- BICENTENARY CONCERT SERIES
Early on Wednesday, the President made a statement about the Council’s continuing Bicentenary Concert Series being held in NSW Parliament’s Fountain Court. The concerts have been held throughout the Bicentenary year, with audiences invited to enjoy musical performances while reflecting on the Parliament’s past, celebrating progress made, and imaging the future – all key themes of the Bicentenary celebrations.
On Wednesday, a packed audience was treated to a performance by talented musicians from Musica Viva: the Astra Octet, Beatrice Colombis and The Frosty Shosty Quartet. Take a look at a gallery of photos from the performance below, and book in to come along to our next concert to be held on Wednesday 25 September, 2024.
NEW SESSIONAL ORDERS – VARIATION TO STANDING ORDERS
During the morning’s formal business, the House agreed to three motions moved by the Hon Penny Sharpe (Labor) varying three separate standing orders for the period of the current session.
- The first will vary Standing Order 195 (1) to read: “A private members’ business notice of motion that has remained on the Notice Paper for 13 sitting days without being moved will be removed from the Notice Paper”. See the motion in the Hansard record and view the related committee report here.
- The second will vary Standing Order 75 relating to how notices of motion are given in the House, when they are read in full and when a summary of the intent of the motion should be given instead. Find out more in the Hansard record and view the related committee report here.
- The third will vary Standing Order 96 (3) ruling that a member’s use of offensive or discriminatory words against either House of the Legislature, or any member of either House, will be considered disorderly. Read the full motion in the Hansard record and view the related committee report here.
NEGATIVED: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill 2023
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill 2023 was debated in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. This private members’ bill, introduced in 2023 by Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) would amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 to establish an independent statutory body responsible for ensuring the welfare of animals in NSW. Read more about the bill in our previous blog.
Contributions to the second reading debate were made by members of the Government, the Opposition, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, the Animal Justice Party and The Greens. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record, and continued here.
At the conclusion of the debate, the second reading of the bill was negatived on division, with 6 Ayes and 28 Noes.
NEGATIVED: PETROLEUM (ONSHORE) AMENDMENT (LIVERPOOL PLAINS PROHIBITION) BILL 2023
Also in the Legislative Council on Wednesday was the Petroleum (Onshore) Amendment (Liverpool Plains Prohibition) Bill 2023. This bill, previously introduced by the Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party), seeks to prohibit prospecting for, or mining of, coal seam gas in the Liverpool Plains area. Read more about the bill in our previous blog.
Debate on the bill resumed with contributions to the second reading debate being made by members of the Government, the Opposition and The Greens. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record.
Following the conclusion of debate the second reading of the bill was negatived on division, with 6 Ayes and 20 Noes.
NEGATIVED: Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Disallowance of Transport Oriented Development SEPP) Bill 2024
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Disallowance of Transport Oriented Development SEPP) Bill 2024 was also debated in the Council on Wednesday. This bill would amend the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to enable State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) Amendment (Transport Oriented Development) 2024 (TOD SEPP) to be disallowed by Parliament. Read more about the bill in our previous blog.
The second reading debate resumed, with contributions made by members of the Government, The Greens, the Legalise Cannabis Party and Independent members the Hon Mark Latham and the Hon Rod Roberts. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record.
At the conclusion of the debate, the second reading of the bill was negatived on division, with 12 Ayes and 25 Noes.
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were debated in the House over the course of the day:
| Topic of motion | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Regional bus subsidies | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to, as amended |
| First home buyers assistance scheme | The Hon Emily Suvaal (Labor) | Agreed to, as amended |
| ABC apology to the Wran Family | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to |
| NSW Artificial Intelligence (AI) Commissioner | The Hon Jacqui Munro (Liberal) | Negatived on division (Ayes: 17/Noes: 18) |
| Apprentices and trainees in the local government sector | The Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor) | Agreed to |
| 2024 Startup Muster Report funding | The Hon Jacqui Munro (Liberal) | Agreed to |
In addition to the above motions debated in the chamber, the following motions were agreed to without debate, during the morning’s formal business:
- Passing of Mr Geoff Selig, moved by The Hon Chris Rath (Liberal)
- Wheelchair accessible taxis, moved by Ms Cate Faehrmann (The Greens)
- Domestic Violence Death Review Team 2021-2023 Report, moved by Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens)
- Mr Shuichi Tokuda, Consul-General of Japan, moved by the Hon Rod Roberts (Independent)
- Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse upgrade, moved by the Hon Aileen MacDonald (Liberal)
- Armidale Ezidi refugees, also moved by Mrs MacDonald
- 2024 Olympics and women in sport, moved by Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens)
- State Emergency Services event commemorating 2022 Central West floods, moved by the Hon Stephen Lawrence (Labor)
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Government initiated transport and road reviews | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 20/Noes: 17) | 4 September 2024 |
| Ministerial correspondence | The Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) | Agreed to | 11 September 2024 |
DOCUMENTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE HOUSE
Among the documents tabled and reported in the House on Wednesday were:
- Disputed Claim of Privilege—Greyhound welfare, a report of the Independent Legal Arbiter dated 9 August 2024, together with a submission
- Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 8 of 2024, a report of the Regulation Committee dated 14 August 2024
Find all documents tabled and reported in our Tabled Papers Database.