The Legislative Council sat for the first time in 2025 on Tuesday and the House got right down to business! A Housing Amendment bill was introduced, and three bills passed, including those related to food and garden organics waste, and oversight of the state’s creative industries. The Council also received the significant news of intended retirement of the Clerk, heard a Ministerial statement related to antisemitism, and a personal explanation from an MLC related to her resignation from a party. Read on for more… 

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT – RETIREMENT OF CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS AND CLERK OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR DAVID BLUNT AM

Early in the day’s proceedings, the President shared that he had “reluctantly accepted” news of The Clerk David Blunt AM’s intention to retire, which was met with an audible reaction from sitting members. After 35 years of parliamentary service and 13 years as Clerk of the Parliaments, Mr Blunt’s final day of duty will be 28 March. Referring to The Clerk as steadfast guardian of the Legislative Council and pillar of wisdom, the President imparted a message of gratitude and best wishes to Mr Blunt for his retirement. The President advised that a competitive merit selection process to fill the role will begin shortly. 

Read the President’s full statement here.  

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT – DEATH OF MR ROBERT TAPI

The President also made a statement regarding the death of Mr Robert Tapi, Clerk of the Bougainville House of Representatives, on Sunday 22 December 2024.  

The NSW Parliament is paired with the Bougainville House of Representatives under the parliamentary twinning program. You can read more about the program in this blog post. Remarking on Mr Tapi’s distinguished career, the President said that notwithstanding his passing, the Parliament would continue its close working relationship with the members and staff of the Bougainville House of Representatives. The statement is available in the Hansard record here. 

In the chamber, members and officers stood as a show of respect.  

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – CONDEMNATION OF ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES

Tuesday also saw the Hon Penny Sharpe, Leader of the NSW Government in the Legislative Council, make a Ministerial Statement condemning the alarming rise of antisemitism in NSW. Ms Sharpe foreshadowed that new criminal offences would be introduced to deter acts of antisemitism, racially-motivated hate crimes and religious vilification, and spoke of the redoubled efforts of Strike Force Pearl. The full statement can be viewed on the Hansard record. The Leader of the Opposition in the Council, the Hon Damien Tudehope, also spoke in reply, echoing Ms Sharpe’s sentiments.

PERSONAL EXPLANATION FROM THE HON TANIA MIHAILUK 

In the afternoon, the Hon Tania Mihailuk made a personal explanation in the chamber relating to her resignation from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party in December last year. Ms Mihailuk will serve the remainder of her term in the Council as an independent member. Read Ms Mihailuk’s explanation in the Hansard record. 

INTRODUCED: HOUSING AMENDMENT BILL 2025

In her capacity as Minister for Housing, the Hon Rose Jackson introduced the Housing Amendment Bill 2025 on Tuesday. The bill would amend the Housing Act 2001 to grant the Minister for Housing the same planning powers and functions as the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) under relevant legislation.  

Proposed amendments would give the Minister express powers to acquire, hold, develop, lease, dispose of and otherwise deal with property (including residential property). In her second reading speech, Ms Jackson explained that this would allow the Minister to direct government resources to build more social housing.  

The bill would additionally allow for the Minister to delegate the Minister’s functions under the Act – and other Acts in certain circumstances – to an employee of the department in which the Act is administered, or the NSW Land and Housing Corporation.  

Read more about the bill in Ms Jackson’s second reading speech. 

Following the introduction of the bill, debate was adjourned for five calendar days, according to standing order. 

PASSED: PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (FOGO RECYCLING) BILL 2024

On Tuesday, the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment (FOGO Recycling) Bill 2024 passed the Upper House.  

Introduced by the Hon Penny Sharpe in her capacity as Minister for the Environment during a previous sitting period, the bill will amend the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 to mandate the source-separated collection of food and garden organics waste (also known as FOGO) from households and of food waste from businesses. The bill also mandates the reporting of food donations by large supermarkets. It sets out penalties for failure to comply with the requirements, as well as exemption and regulation-making powers, and will be phased in. You can read more about the bill from when it was introduced in November 2024 on our previous blog. 

Contributions to the second reading debate were made by members of the Government, the Opposition, The Greens and the Libertarian Party. Read all member contributions 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 Legislative Assembly for concurrence. 

PASSED: SOUND NSW ADVISORY BILL 2024

Debate began on the Sound NSW Advisory Board Bill 2024 on Tuesday afternoon, and resumed in the evening. The bill was introduced in November 2024 by the Hon John Graham in his capacity as Minister for Arts, Night-time Economy and Music. 

The bill seeks to establish the Sound NSW Advisory Board, which would provide advice about the contemporary music industry in New South Wales to the Minister. The bill would establish the board, its membership, functions and other establishing documents. Read more on our blog from when the bill was introduced last year. 

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

When the House resolved into committee of the whole… 

  • One amendment was moved by Ms Cate Faehrmann on behalf of The Greens, seeking to insert a provision requiring the periodic review of the Sound NSW Advisory Board, to ensure it appropriately represents the contemporary music industry in New South Wales and is achieving the policy objectives of the Act. This amendment was agreed to on the voices.
  • Another amendment was moved by Ms Faehrmann, regarding the composition of the Board. The amendment set out required minimum numbers of Board members who are First Nations, from regional or remote NSW, have significant industry experience across key sectors, experience in music education, and experience as an independent director outside of the music industry. The amendment was negatived on the voices. 
  • A further amendment was moved by Ms Faehrmann requiring that at least one member of the Board be a current member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). This amendment was agreed to on the voices.
  • Two amendments were moved in globo by the Hon Jacqui Munro on behalf of the Opposition. The amendments seek to insert a requirement that the Board include two artists. A consequential amendment defines an artist as a singer, songwriter, DJ or recording artist with at least three years professional experience, and a demonstrable body of work or who has otherwise made a significant contribution to the music industry. These amendments were agreed to on the voices. 

Read the full committee of the whole proceedings in the Hansard record. 

The third reading of the bill as amended was then agreed to on the voices, ready for forwarding to the Assembly for concurrence.  

PASSED: CREATIVE STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT BILL

The Creative Statement to Parliament Bill 2024 passed the Council on Tuesday, having been introduced by Minister for Arts the Hon John Graham in October 2024.  

The bill seeks to mandate the preparation and tabling of a ‘Creative Statement to Parliament’ tracking the status, health and progress of the arts, culture and creative industries in NSW every three years. Review our blog from when the bill was introduced last year. The bill arose through the NSW Government’s 10-year Creative Communities policy and seeks to ensure long-term monitoring and accountability for the arts, culture and creative industries in NSW. 

Contributions to the debate were made by members of the Opposition, The Greens, and an Independent. Member contributions can be read in the Hansard record here. 

When the House resolved into committee of the whole…  

  • Five amendments were moved in globo by Minister Graham, which he acknowledged were informed by discussion with a number of stakeholders and most notably Ms Abigail Boyd. The first amendment provides a definition for ‘health’ of the creative industries, while the second makes a consequential amendment to the language of the Act. The third amendment modifies the objects of the Act to recognise the intrinsic value of arts and culture, acknowledged as a public good, and to promote Ministerial accountability. The fourth amendment gives the Parliament the capacity to respond to the Statement and to refer it to a relevant committee, while the final amendment sets out requirements and expectations for what the Statement should include.  

The amendments were agreed to on the voices.  

The third reading of the bill as amended was agreed to on the voices, and will be forwarded to the Assembly for concurrence. 

DEBATED: ENERGY AMENDMENT (PIPELINES AND GAS SAFETY) BILL 2024

On Tuesday evening, debate began on the Energy Amendment (Pipelines and Gas Safety) Bill 2024, introduced by the Hon Penny Sharpe in her capacity as Minister for Energy in November last year.  

The bill would amend three pieces of legislation – the Gas Supply Act 1996, the Pipelines Act 1967 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 – with the aim of modernising the Gas Supply Act and better harmonising it with the Pipelines Act, as well as with similar energy legislation in the State and elsewhere. Read more in our blog post covering the bill’s introduction last year.  

Amendments would enhance government investigation powers, including through granting inspectors the power to direct persons and operators to undertake specified activities related to gas supply and pipelines, to enter premises and inspect land, and request information. Changes across both Acts would also increase the maximum penalties for particular offences and provide for continuing offences, as well as refining administrative processes and delegations. 

Contributions were made by members of the Opposition and The Greens, before the hard adjournment time of 10pm was reached. Member contributions can be read in the Hansard record here.

Debate was adjourned until a future sitting day.  

IN COMMITTEES

Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) notified the House that the Public Accountability and Works Committee has extended the reporting date for its inquiry into Western Sydney Science Park and Aerotropolis developments to 28 March 2025. Find full details of the inquiry here.  

The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis) notified the House of the terms of reference adopted by Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance in November 2024 for an inquiry into application of the contractor and employment agent provisions in the Payroll Tax Act. The terms can be viewed in the Hansard record here. Mr Buckingham also informed the House that the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future adopted new terms of reference in December 2024. View them here in the Hansard record.  

The House also heard ‘take note’ debates on the following committee reports and Government responses: 

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

During the day’s proceedings, the receipt of a number of committee reports and government responses were reported in the House: 

GENERAL MOTIONS

The following motions were agreed to without debate, during the day’s formal business: 

DOCUMENTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE HOUSE

Among the documents tabled and reported on Tuesday were: 

 A full list of other reports received and tabled can be found in the Tabled Papers Database. 

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