After three weeks of Budget Estimates hearings, the Legislative Council was back in session for a busy week of business. The House passed seven bills this week, including one related to regulation of the sale of illicit tobacco and another that will amend the Water Management Act 2000 increasing penalties and introducing civil enforcement tools. In other business, five orders for papers were agreed to and five new committee inquiries were reported in the House.
On Thursday, the President made a ruling related to arguments, inferences and imputations in questions during Question Time. The President clarified that while questions asked often contain elements of argument, inference, or political theatre, he will allow some latitude when these relate to matters of policy. However, going forward, he will be more likely to rule questions out of order if they include personal imputations or inferences, particularly against non-members. Read the president’s ruling in full in the Hansard record.
Read on to find out more about what happened in the House this week…
BILLS INTRODUCED
- Residential Tenancies Amendment (Domestic Violence Reform) Bill 2025
- Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Water Management Legislation (Stronger Enforcement and Penalties) Bill 2025
BILLS PASSED
- Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment Bill 2025
- Tobacco Legislation (Closure Orders) Amendment Bill 2025
- District Court Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Victims Rights and Victims of Crime Commissioner Bill 2025
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (War Memorial Offences) Bill 2025
- Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences and Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2025
- Water Management Legislation (Stronger Enforcement and Penalties) Bill 2025
BILLS DEBATED
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were debated in the House this week:
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Business Connect program | The Hon Rachel Merton (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended, on division (Ayes: 19/Noes: 14) |
| Great Koala National Park | The Hon Cameron Murphy (Labor) | Agreed to, as amended, on division (Ayes: 18/Noes: 6) |
CITIZEN’S RIGHT OF REPLY
The Citizen’s Right of Reply procedure allows individuals named (or readily identifiable) in debates the House to submit a written response to statements that adversely affect them – on reputation, occupation, privacy etc – for possible inclusion in Hansard, subject to certain criteria and review by the Privileges Committee on referral from the President.
On Wednesday, the House agreed to adopt a Citizen’s Right of Reply by Mr Brett Whitworth. Members of the Government, the Opposition and Independent member the Hon Mark Latham made contributions to the debate.
Read the full debate in the Hansard record, and continued here.
IN COMMITTEES
The following new inquiries were established and reported in the House this week:
- Matters of impropriety relating to Bayside Council, Public Accountability and Works Committee
- New South Wales university sector, Standing Committee on Social Issues
- 2025 Inquiry into the operation of the approved charitable organisations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Regional NSW
- The unauthorised disclosure of privileged information by the Honourable Mark Latham MLC, Privileges Committee
- Draft Constitution (Disclosures by Members) Regulation 2025, Privileges Committee
The following committee reports were tabled and reported in the House this week:
- Report no. 37 of the Selection of Bills of Committee, dated 9 September 2025
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 10 of 2025 of the Delegated Legislation Committee dated 9 September 2025
- Legislation Review Digest, Report no. 34/58 of the Legislation Review Committee dated 9 September 2025
- Review of the 2023-2024 Annual Reports of the ICAC and the Inspector of the ICAC, report 2/58 of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption dated September 2025
- Management of cat populations in New South Wales, report No. 2 of the Animal Welfare Committee entitled dated August 2025
- Impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) on rural and regional communities and industries in New South Wales: First report, report No. 62 of Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Regional NSW dated August 2025
- PFAS contamination in waterways and drinking water supplies throughout New South Wales, Report No. 1 of the Select Committee on PFAS Contamination in Waterways and Drinking Water Supplies Throughout New South Wales dated September 2025
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Transport Asset, Workforce and Operations Management | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Agreed to on division (Ayes: 20/Noes: 13) | 22 October 2025 |
| Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals | Ms Cate Faehrmann (The Greens) | Negatived on division (Ayes: 17/Noes: 18) | |
| Operation of Water Regulating Infrastructure at Toorale National Park | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (The Nationals) | Agreed to, as amended | 8 October 2025 |
| Abuse in the Greyhound Racing Industry | The Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) | Agreed to | 1 October 2025 |
| Incident at NSW Parliament House – Further Order | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to on division (Ayes: 18/Noes: 13) | 17 September 2025 |
| NSW Koala Strategy translocation projects | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Agreed to | 1 October 2025 |