The Legislative Council was back in session on Tuesday for a busy day of Government business. The House passed four bills, including those related to victims registers and cultural institutions, and heard the introduction of three others. The establishment of two new committee inquiries were also reported in the House, one of which related to proposed changes to liability and entitlements for psychological injury, where the committee has already tabled its report. Read on for more…

PASSED: ABORTION LAW REFORM AMENDMENT (HEALTH CARE ACCESS) BILL 2025

The Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025 was back in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, for consideration of amendments made to the bill in the Legislative Assembly. This bill amends the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019 to increase access to abortion health care.  Read more about the bill in our previous blog.

The House resolved into a committee of the whole to consider the Legislative Assembly amendment which would replace the term “medical practitioner” with “registered health practitioner” in the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019.

The House agreed to the amendment on the voices, with the bill then returned to the Assembly ready for the Governor’s assent.

INTRODUCED: CONVEYANCING AND REAL PROPERTY AMENDMENT BILL 2025

The Conveyancing and Real Property Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced by the Hon Mark Buttigieg on Tuesday evening. This bill seeks to make various amendments to the Conveyancing Act 1919 and the Real Property Act 1900.

In his second reading speech Mr Buttigieg explained key reforms contained in the bill. These include clarifying and strengthening regulation-making powers – especially around document lodgement fees – and enabling more flexibility in procedures by allowing certain matters to be handled through lodgement rules rather than regulation. The bill also seeks to simplify administrative processes, such as the release of land interests and the handling of information agreements for the Central Register of Restrictions (CRR).

The bill aims to resolve legal uncertainty caused by the Gavancorp court decision, which had exposed a loophole regarding put options in property transactions. It reinstates the intention that disclosure laws apply equally to both put and call options. Other reforms include modernising how notices are served (e.g. permitting email where appropriate), consolidating and updating rules for searching the NSW land titles register to reflect electronic systems, and ensuring compensation provisions reflect new terminology. Overall, the bill aims to streamline land transaction processes, reduce red tape, and better align the legislation with modern conveyancing practices. Read more about the bill in Mr Buttigieg’s second reading speech.

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

INTRODUCED: CHILDREN’S GUARDIAN AMENDMENT BILL 2024

Also introduced in the Legislative Council on Tuesday was the Children’s Guardian Amendment Bill 2025. This bill seeks to amend the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 to implement a number of recommendations arising from a 2024 statutory review of the Act.

In her second reading speech, the Minister, the Hon Rose Jackson, explained that the bill seeks to introduce reforms to the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 aimed at strengthening child protection, particularly through expanding the Reportable Conduct Scheme to include all private health services for children, clarifying definitions and procedures and improving cultural safety by requiring consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It would also update child employment provisions, enhances oversight of the Children’s Guardian, and ensures better governance and accountability, including expanding the role of the parliamentary oversight committee and adjusting requirements for the Youth Advisory Committee. Read more about the bill in Minister Jackson’s second reading speech.

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

INTRODUCED: EVIDENCE (AUDIO AND AUDIO-VISUAL LINKS) AMENDMENT (LOCAL COURT BAIL DIVISION) BILL 2025

Tuesday also saw the introduction of the Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Amendment (Local Court Bail Division) Bill 2025 in the Legislative Council. This bill seeks to amend the Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 to formalise the use of audio-visual links in first appearance bail matters; and to facilitate the commencement of the Bail Division of the Local Court.

In his second reading speech, Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Mark Buttigieg, explained that the bill seeks to modernise the Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 to support the establishment of a centralised Bail Division in the NSW Local Court. It seeks to remove the requirement for in-person appearances in first appearance bail proceedings, making audiovisual link (AVL) the default, while preserving judicial discretion and safeguards for justice and accessibility. It also introduces limited provisions for audio link use when AVL is unavailable, strengthens protections for accused detainees’ participation and legal communication and allows flexible implementation as new technology and court structures roll out from July 2025. Read more about the bill in Mr Buttigieg’s second treading speech, and continued here.

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

PASSED: VICTIMS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (VICTIMS REGISTERS) BILL 2025

The Victims Legislation Amendment (Victims Registers) Bill 2025 passed the Legislative Council on Tuesday, having passed the Legislative Assembly in the previous sitting period.

In his second reading speech, Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Mark Buttigieg, explained that bill introduces a legislative obligation for agencies administering the three victims registers in NSW to notify eligible victims of serious offenders about the existence of the registers and their eligibility to register. These include victims of young offenders (administered by Youth Justice NSW), adult offenders (administered by Corrective Services NSW), and certain forensic patients (administered by the Commissioner of Victims Rights). The notification requirement is limited to victims of serious offenders – defined specifically in each relevant Act, and aims to reduce the risk of re-traumatisation and respond to stakeholder feedback.

Forensic victims will all be notified, given their unique circumstances. The bill allows agencies to refrain from notification if victims cannot be identified, contacted, or have previously declined engagement. It also introduces provisions (Schedule 4) enabling information-sharing between agencies and prosecuting authorities to facilitate victim contact, with necessary exemptions from privacy laws. The bill does not change the existing structure or eligibility criteria of the registers but ensures victims of serious crimes are better supported through timely and informed access. Read more about the bill in Mr Buttigieg’s second reading speech.

Members of the Opposition, The Greens, the Government and Independent member the Hon Mark Latham made contributions to the second reading debate. Read all contributions in the Hansard record.

 With the second and third readings of the bill agreed to on the voices, the bill was then returned to the Legislative Assembly, ready for the Governor’s assent.

PASSED: CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2025

The Cultural Institutions Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 also passed the Legislative Council. The bill amends legislation establishing several significant cultural institutions in New South Wales to increase the membership of each institution’s governing body to include at least one young person. 

Read more about the bill in our previous blog.

Contributions to the second reading debate were made by members of the Opposition, The Greens and the Government. 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 sent to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence.

PASSED: STATUTE LAW (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 2025

The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 also passed the Council on Tuesday.

Statute law bills addressing ‘miscellaneous provisions’, such as this one, are used to implement a range of minor amendments across multiple Acts in a single step. This method provides an efficient way to keep legislation current. Read more about this bill in our previous blog.

Read the second reading debate where members of the Opposition made contributions in the Hansard record.

With the second and third readings of the bill agreed to on the voices, the bill was then forwarded to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence.

GENERAL MOTIONS

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

IN COMMITTEES

The establishment of two new committee inquiries were reported in the House on Tuesday.

Chair of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice, the Hon Greg Donnelly, informed the House that on 9 May 2025, the committee resolved to inquire into and report into proposed changes to liability and entitlements for psychological injury in New South Wales, following a reference from Treasurer, the Hon Daniel Mookhey. With a short timeline for this inquiry, a report has already been tabled and can be viewed on the inquiry’s webpage.

Chair of the Delegated Legislation Committee, the Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones, also informed the House that on 26 May 2025 the committee resolved to inquire into and report on the consolidation of the provisions of the Interpretation Act 1987, Subordinate Legislation Act 1989 and the Legislation Review Act 1987 relating to delegated legislation. Find out more about this inquiry on our website.

The House heard ‘take note’ debates on the following committee reports:

The following committee reports were also tabled and reported in the House on Tuesday:

DOCUMENTS TABLED AND REPORTED IN THE HOUSE

Among the documents tabled and reported on Tuesday were:

Find all documents tabled and reported in our Tabled Papers Database.   

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