The Legislative Council debated nine general motions and agreed to four orders for papers on Wednesday. A bill that sought to remove restrictions on the consumption of alcohol in public places was also negatived, rounding out a busy private members’ business day in the House. Read on for more…
NEGATIVED: ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN PUBLIC PLACES (LIBERALISATION) BILL 2024
The Legislative Council debated the Alcohol Consumption in Public Places (Liberalisation) Bill 2024 on Wednesday. This private members’ bill, previously introduced by the Hon John Ruddick (Libertarian Party), seeks to remove restrictions on the consumption of alcohol in public places. Read more about the bill in our previous blog. After its introduction, this bill was referred to committee for inquiry, with Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance handing down its report in September 2024.
As the bill had previously been sent to committee for inquiry, Mr Ruddick gave another second reading speech in the House on Tuesday. Read the full speech in the Hansard record.
During the second reading debate, contributions were made by members of the Opposition, the Government, The Greens and the Legalise Cannabis Party. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record.
At the conclusion of the debate, the second reading of the bill was negatived on division (Ayes: 18 / Noes: 21).
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were debated in the House over the course of the day:
| Topic of motion | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Ministerial diary disclosures | The Hon Scott Farlow (Liberal) | Agreed to on division (Ayes: 23/Noes: 15) |
| Kangaroo populations and the United States Kangaroo Protection Bill | The Hon Scott Barrett (Nationals) | Agreed to, as amended (Ayes: 30/Noes: 6) |
| Corowa Rally 2024 | The Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Vets and mental health | The Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) | Agreed to |
| Select Committee on Foundational and Disability Supports Available for Children and Young People in New South Wales and continued here | The Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones (Liberal) | Agreed to |
| Online abuse on social media and continued here | The Hon Mark Banasiak (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party) | Agreed to |
| 113th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) | The Hon Chris Rath (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Access to dental care | Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens) | Agreed to |
| Unaccredited Emergency Accommodation | The Hon Emily Suvaal (Labor) | 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:
- Lucy’s Project Charity, moved by the Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens)
- Annual Australia-India Address and Gala Dinner 2024, moved by the Hon Rachel Merton (Liberal)
- Tweed Coast Youth Service, moved by the Hon Aileen MacDonald (Liberal)
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| PFAS in New South Wales | Ms Cate Faehrmann (The Greens) | Agreed to | 27 November 2024 |
| Sydney Gateway End of Year Event | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Agreed to | 23 November 2024 |
| Racing NSW | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 25/Noes: 14) | 13 November 2024 |
| Strike or task forces in New South Wales | The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) | Agreed to | 20 November 2024 |
IN COMMITTEES
Among the day’s general motions, the House agreed a motion, moved by the Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones (Liberal), that a select committee be established to inquire into and report on child development, early childhood intervention services and other foundational and disability supports available for children and young people with developmental concerns, delays, differences or disabilities in New South Wales. Stay tuned to the Parliament’s website where details of the inquiry will be published soon.
Also in committees, the following committee reports and government responses were tabled in the House on Wednesday:
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 12 of 2024 of the Regulation Committee
- Artificial intelligence in New South Wales, Government response to Report No. 63 of Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance