The Legislative Council’s final private members’ business day of the March sitting period saw a bill introduced relating to organisational liability for historical child abuse, and another related to abortion law reform debated. The House also debated a number of general motions and agreed to four orders for papers. Read on for more…
INTRODUCED: CIVIL LIABILITY AMENDMENT (ORGANISATIONAL CHILD ABUSE LIABILITY) BILL 2025
The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) introduced the Civil Liability Amendment (Organisational Child Abuse Liability) Bill 2025 on Wednesday. This private members’ bill would amend the Civil Liability Act 2002 to extend organisational liability for child abuse perpetrated by persons associated with the organisation, and vicarious liability for child abuse perpetrated by employees and persons akin to employees, to child abuse perpetrated before 26 October 2018. Amendments would permit courts to set aside agreements made before the commencement of the proposed Act that would otherwise prevent legal actions arising as a result of the duty and liability of organisations being extended from being taken.
Mr Buckingham explained that the precedent set by a High Court of Australia ruling from 2024 limits victim‑survivors of historical child sexual abuse from accessing equal and proper justice due to a technical loophole around who can be considered an employee. The bill therefore seeks to retrospectively expand vicarious liability to allow for institutions to be held accountable for the actions of priests, religious clergy and volunteers acting under the authority of the religious institution prior to 2018. Read Mr Buckingham’s second reading speech in full in the Hansard record.
According to standing order, debate was adjourned for five calendar days following the bill’s introduction.
DEBATED: ABORTION LAW REFORM AMENDMENT (HEALTH CARE ACCESS) BILL 2025
Debate on the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 began on Wednesday. This private members’ bill, previously introduced by Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens), seeks to amend the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019 to increase access to abortion health care. Read more about the bill in our previous blog.
During the second reading debate, contributions were made by members of the Government, the Opposition, the Libertarian Party, The Greens and Independent member the Hon Rod Roberts. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record.
Further debate on the bill was adjourned until a future sitting of the House.
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were debated in the House over the course of the day:
| Topic of motion | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Stage 6 Drama and Music syllabuses | The Hon Jacqui Munro (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Crimes Act Amendments and Review | The Hon Susan Carter (Liberal) | Agreed to |
| International Day to Combat Islamophobia | The Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor) | Agreed to |
| Endometriosis Awareness Month 2025 | The Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Bush Babies Matter campaign | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to |
| Tariffs on steel and aluminium | The Hon Emily Suvaal (Labor) | Agreed to |
| Appointment of the Director to the Board of the Australian Turf Club | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to, as amended |
In addition to the above motions debated in the chamber, the following motions were agreed to without debate, during the morning’s formal business:
- Close the Gap Day 2025, moved by the Hon Aileen MacDonald (Liberal)
- Child justice system reforms, also moved by Mrs MacDonald
- Financial impact of domestic violence on Australian women, moved by Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens)
- Motion to table Report of the Independent Legal Arbiter – Early Childhood Education and Care Sector, also moved by Ms Boyd
- Bangladesh Independence Day 2025, also moved by Ms Boyd
- Passing of Patrick “Pat” Edgerton, moved by the Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor)
- World Day of Prayer 2025, moved by the Hon Rachel Merton (Liberal)
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Football in schools grant | The Hon Tania Mihailuk (Independent) | Agreed to | 16 April 2025 |
| Willyama High School | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 15/Noes: 22) | 16 April 2025 |
| Racing NSW – Further Order | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 23/Noes: 16) | |
| Liverpool City Council | The Hon Chris Rath (Liberal) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 20/Noes: 15) | 16 April 2025 |
IN COMMITTEES
The following committee report was tabled in the House on Wednesday:
Impact of the phase-out of Australian live sheep exports by sea on New South Wales, report No. 60 of Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Regional NSW dated March 2025
DOCUMENTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE HOUSE
Among other documents tabled and reported in the House on Wednesday was Disputed Claim of Privilege – Early Childhood education and care sector, a report of the Independent Legal Arbiter dated Thursday 20 March 2025.
Find all documents tabled and reported in our Tabled Papers Database.
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