The Legislative Council returned for the second sitting week of the September sitting period this week, passing nine bills, including one related to the domestic violence reform of residential tenancies. Unusually, two private members’ bills passed the House this week – one moved by the Hon Emma Hurst of the Animal Justice Party related to animal sexual abuse, and another moved by the Hon Damien Tudehope of the Liberal Party related to workers’ compensation for firefighters. The House also agreed to five orders for papers, and rounded out the week with an eventful joint sitting to fill a vacancy in the representation of NSW in the Australian Senate.
Read on to find out more about what happened in the House this week…
JOINT SITTING TO FILL SENATE VACANCY
On Thursday, a joint sitting of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly was held in the Council chamber to fill a vacancy in the representation of New South Wales in the Australian Senate caused by the resignation of Senator Warwick Stacey, a member of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Unusually for a joint sitting a division was called on a motion to change the rules under which the sitting operates. During the joint sitting, questions arose as to whether the candidate proposed by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to fill the vacancy, Mr Sean Bell, was a resident of New South Wales. Responding to a point of order, President Franklin ruled:
… it is … not the role of this Joint Sitting to adjudge … questions concerning the qualification of Mr Bell to take a seat in the Australian Senate. Those are matters for the Senate and the High Court, sitting as a Court of Disputed Returns.
Ultimately Mr Sean Bell was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Read the full debate in the Hansard record.
BILLS INTRODUCED
- Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill (No 2) 2025
- Liquor Amendment (Airports) Bill 2025
BILLS PASSED
- Residential Tenancies Amendment (Domestic Violence Reform) Bill 2025
- Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Crimes Amendment (Animal Sexual Abuse) Bill 2025
- Child Protection (Working with Children) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Workers Compensation Amendment (Firefighters’ Diseases) Bill 2025
- Crimes Amendment (Intimate Image and Audio Material) Bill 2025
- Environmental Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Police Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025
- Land Tax (Build to Rent Concessions) Amendment Bill 2025
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were debated in the House this week:
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Community preschool funding model | Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) | Agreed to, as amended |
| School Choice movement | The Hon John Ruddick (Libertarian) | Negatived on division (Ayes: 3/Noes: 34) |
| First Home Buyers Assistance Program | The Hon Dr Sarah Kaine (Labor) | Agreed to |
| Global legal cannabis industry | The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) | Agreed to |
IN COMMITTEES
The following new inquiries were established and reported in the House this week:
- Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Amendment Bill 2025, Portfolio Committee No. 3 – Education
- Annual amount to be distributed from the administration fund to eligible minor parties, Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters
The following committee reports were tabled and reported in the House this week:
- Report no. 38 of the Selection of Bills of Committee, dated 16 September 2025
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 11 of 2025 of the Delegated Legislation Committee dated 16 September 2025
- Legislation Review Digest, Report no. 35/58 of the Legislation Review Committee dated 16 September 2025
- Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025, Report No. 55 of the Standing Committee on State Development dated September 2025
- Appropriation for the services of the Independent Commission Against Corruption for the 2025-2026 financial year, Report No. 3/58 of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption dated September 2025
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Workers Compensation Legislation – Further Order | The Hon Damien Tudehope (Liberal) | Agreed to on division (Ayes: 22/Noes: 15) | 24 September 2025 |
| Weapons Incidents in NSW Public Schools | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to, as amended | 15 October 2025 |
| Transport and Roads Asset Delivery and Performance | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Agreed to on division (Ayes: 22/Noes: 15) | 15 October 2025 |
| Consideration and selection of new metropolitan cemetery sites in Sydney | The Hon Tania Mihailuk (Independent) | Agreed to | 8 October 2025 |
| Development at Woollahra and Edgecliff Stations | The Hon Scott Farlow (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended | 8 October 2025 |