It was an energetic first private members’ business day of 2025 in the Legislative Council! One private members’ bill was introduced, the House debated eight general motions and agreed to two orders for papers. Throughout the day, the rise of antisemitism in NSW was the subject of several debates. Read on for more…
PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT – Parliamentary Democracy at Work: Essays on the New South Wales Legislative Council
The day began with a statement from the President advising members of the book launch the same evening for Parliamentary Democracy at Work: Essays on the New South Wales Legislative Council. Edited by The Clerk David Blunt AM, and Dr David Clune OAM, the book’s publication was a Bicentenary project showcasing the scholarship of Legislative Council members and staff over the past 20 years. Take a look at some photos from the event below.
INTRODUCED – GREYHOUND RACING BAN BILL
The Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) introduced the Greyhound Racing Ban Bill 2024 to the Upper House on Wednesday evening. This private members’ bill seeks to ban greyhound racing and to dissolve Greyhound Racing New South Wales within 12 months of the Act coming into effect.
The bill would see the banning of greyhound racing, the keeping of greyhounds for racing, the betting on greyhound racing, and the transfer or export of greyhounds for racing. It would also impose an immediate ban on breeding greyhounds for racing and the killing of registered greyhounds (with an exemption for legitimate euthanasia), setting out penalties for breaches of all of these offences. In Ms Hurst’s second reading speech, she argued there was ongoing cruelty in the industry, citing a 2024 handover report from the former chief veterinary officer of Greyhound Racing NSW, Dr Alex Brittan, and similar bans implemented in other jurisdictions in Australia and overseas.
The bill would additionally require the Minister to appoint an administrator to wind up greyhound racing in New South Wales and the affairs of Greyhound Racing NSW, and provide for the repeal of the Greyhound Racing Act 2017 and the dissolution of Greyhound Racing NSW. Ms Hurst explained that the bill would allow for a managed transition for those affected by the ban through Government assistance, which would also be required for the rehoming of greyhounds.
Read more about the bill in Ms Hurst’s second reading speech.
Following the bill’s introduction, debate was adjourned for five calendar days, according to standing order.
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were debated in the House over the course of the day:
| Topic of motion | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Mental Health Staffing Disputes | The Hon Susan Carter (Liberal) | Agreed to as amended on the voices |
| Wage Negotiations with Public Sector Workers (debate interrupted and continued in the Hansard here) | Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) | Negatived as amended on the voices |
| Requirements of the Government Sector Finance Act | The Hon Damien Tudehope (Liberal) | Agreed on the voices |
| Referral to Portfolio Committee 5 to inquire into antisemitism in New South Wales | The Hon Chris Rath (Liberal) | Agreed as amended on division (Ayes: 34, Noes: 5) |
| Rise in Antisemitism in New South Wales | The Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor) | Agreed on the voices |
| Australia Day 2025 (debate interrupted and continued in the Hansard here) | The Hon Rachel Merton (Liberal) | Agreed on division (Ayes: 27, Noes: 5) |
| NSW Forestry Corporation Biomaterial Reports | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Negatived on division (Ayes: 6, Noes: 29) |
| Regional Road Infrastructure | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Negatived as amended on division (Ayes: 16, Noes: 17) |
In addition to the above motions debated in the chamber, the following motions were agreed to without debate, during the morning’s formal business:
- National Autism Strategy, moved by Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens)
- PCYC Fit for Work Program, moved by the Hon Aileen McDonald (Liberal)
- Regulation Committee, moved by the Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones (Liberal)
- Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance, (extension of reporting date) moved by the Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis)
- Select Committee on PFAS Contamination in Waterways and Drinking Water Supplies Throughout New South Wales, (extension of reporting date) moved by Ms Cate Faehrmann (The Greens)
- Australian Citizenship Ceremonies, moved by the Hon Jacqui Munro (Liberal)
- Lunar New Year, also moved by Ms Munro
- WugulOra Morning Ceremony, also moved by Ms Munro
IN COMMITTEES
During the day, the House agreed to an amendment to the resolution establishing the Regulation Committee to continue its expanded role in reviewing regulations, following a 12-month trial, and changing its name to the Delegated Legislation Committee.
Also on Wednesday, the House agreed to a new inquiry by Portfolio Committee No. 5 (see General motions above) into Antisemitism. Additionally, it agreed to extensions to the reporting dates of an inquiry by Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance into the regulatory framework for the cannabis, and for the Select Committee on PFAS Contamination in Waterways and Drinking Water Supplies.
Orders for papers
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Rosehill Racecourse Housing Development Proposals | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to on division (Ayes: 24, Noes: 15) | 05/03/2025 |
| Koalas and Pre-Harvest Reviews or Surveys | The Hon Mark Banasiak (Labor) | Agreed to | 26/03/2025 |
DOCUMENTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE HOUSE
Among the documents tabled and reported in the House on Wednesday were:
- Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 1 of 2025, Report of the Regulation Committee, dated 12 February 2025
- Government response to Proposed aerial shooting of brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park, Report No. 1 of the Animal Welfare Committee, tabled 13 November 2024
- Regulation of the Land Titles Registry, Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General, dated 12 February 2025
Find all documents tabled and reported in our Tabled Papers Database.