The Council passed two bills and sent a third to committee for inquiry on Thursday, in the penultimate sitting week of the first half of 2025. The House also debated a matter of public importance related to policy reform and the New South Wales economy and held a ballot to determine the membership of the new Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways. Read on for more…

MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Early on Thursday, on the motion of the Hon Mark Latham (Independent) the House agreed to debate a matter of public importance related to the importance of policy reform to restore the strength of New South Wales’ economy.

‘Matters of public importance’ allow members to debate an issue, without the requirement for a vote on the matter. This means that at the conclusion of the debate, the motion simply lapses. 

Contributions to the debate were made by members of the Government, the Libertarian Party, the Legalise Cannabis Party, the Opposition, the Greens and Independent member the Hon Taylor Martin.

Read the full debate in the Hansard record.

PASSED: HEALTH SERVICES AMENDMENT (PPP PROHIBITION) BILL 2025

The Health Services Amendment (PPP Prohibition) Bill 2025 passed the Legislative Council on Thursday, having passed the Assembly earlier in the sitting week. This bill amends the Health Services Act 1997 prohibiting new public-private partnership arrangements for the provision of acute hospitals and services.

In her second reading speech Minister the Hon Courtney Houssos explained that the bill will prohibit public-private partnerships (PPPs) where a private entity is contracted to construct an acute hospital and deliver acute hospital services to public patients. This legislative change responds to concerns arising from the Northern Beaches Hospital PPP model, which the government argues has led to governance issues, higher costs, and reduced integration with the broader NSW Health system. Amendments made in the bill will only apply to future arrangements and will not affect existing PPPs or other partnerships with the private sector for ancillary services, elective surgery support, or infrastructure maintenance. It also excludes arrangements with affiliated health organisations, other governments or agencies, and includes a regulation-making power to allow flexibility and prevent unintended consequences. Read more about the bill in Minister Houssos’s second reading speech.

Contributions to the second reading debate were made by members of the Opposition, The Greens, the Animal Justice Party, the Government and Independent members the Hon Mark Latham and the Hon Rod Roberts. Read all member contributions in the Hansard record.

The House agreed to the second reading of the bill before resolving into a committee of the whole to consider amendments.

  • One amendment was moved by the Hon Mark Latham (Independent) which sought to remove the “Henry VIII clause” from the bill which gives the Minister power to create an exemption regulation which would override the intention of the bill. This amendment was negatived on the voices.
  • Two amendments were moved by Dr Amanda Cohn on behalf of The Greens which sought to expand the scope of the bill to include the construction or operation of an acute hospital service. These amendments were negatived on the voices.
  • One amendment was moved by Dr Amanda Cohn on behalf of The Greens which sought to set out that only partnerships or agreements with not-for-profit entities can be excluded from the rules or restrictions set out in the bill. This amendment was negatived on division (Ayes: 7/Noes: 27)
  • One final amendment was moved by Dr Amanda Cohn on behalf of The Greens which proposed that the Minister conduct a review and report to Parliament within 12 months, evaluating existing public-private partnerships in terms of their cost-effectiveness and the quality and safety of patient care. This amendment was negatived on division (Ayes: 7/Noes: 27)
  • One further amendment was moved by the Hon Mark Latham (Independent) which sought to oblige the Minister to report on the Department of Health website annually, a comprehensive set of performance measures and outcomes for each public hospital in NSW. This amendment was negatived on the voices.

With no amendments agreed to, the bill’s third reading was agreed to on the voices and it was returned to the Legislative Assembly, ready for the Governor’s assent.

PASSED: CHILDREN’S GUARDIAN AMENDMENT BILL 2025

The Children’s Guardian Amendment Bill 2025 passed the Legislative Council on Thursday. This bill will amend the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 to implement a number of recommendations arising from a 2024 statutory review of the Act. Read more about the bill in our previous blog.

During the second reading debate, members of the Opposition and The Greens make contributions. Read these in the Hansard record.

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

IN COMMITTEES

Following the establishment of the Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways, a ballot was held to determine the final crossbench member of the committee. With both the Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) and the Hon John Ruddick (Libertarian Party) nominating to take the third crossbench position on the committee, the outcome of the ballot determined that Mr Buckingham will take the final spot having received the greater number of votes in the ballot. See the full committee membership on the inquiry website.

Updated membership of the Privileges Committee was reported in the House, with the Hon Stephen Lawrence, the Hon Bob Nanva and the Hon Peter Primrose nominated to serve representing the Government on this committee. The Hon Susan Carter (Liberal) also nominated to serve on the new Select Committee on Fertility Support and Assisted Reproductive Treatment.

Also in committee activity on Thursday, on the motion of Leader of the Opposition in the Council the Hon Damien Tudehope, the House agreed to refer the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 to committee for inquiry and report. Read the full motion and debate in the Hansard record, and find details of the new inquiry including a timeline and terms of reference on our website.

GENERAL MOTIONS

The following motions were agreed to without debate during the course of the day:

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