The Legislative Council returned for the first of two October sitting weeks and went straight to work, considering 13 bills over the course of the week. High-profile legislation on childcare regulation and major planning system reforms was debated, while bills amending liquor licensing at airports and bail laws passed the House.
It was also a busy week for Council committees, with five new inquiries either established or reported to the House, including on native animal harm, the state of live music, and unsolved murders and missing persons cases.
The President made a statement regarding legal proceedings initiated by the Premier’s chief of staff, James Cullen, in the Court of Appeal concerning the Parliamentary Evidence Act 1901 and matters before the Privileges Committee, advising that Bret Walker SC has been appointed to defend the position of the House.
In addition, the House debated a matter of public importance, moved by the Hon Mark Latham, on integrity and principled leadership in the Treasury portfolio. Such debates allow members to discuss an issue without requiring a vote, with the motion lapsing at the conclusion.
Read on to find out more…
BILLS INTRODUCED
- 24-Hour Economy Legislation Amendment (Vibrancy Reforms) Bill 2025
- Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Local Government and Other Legislation Amendment (Councillor Conduct) Bill 2025
- Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment (Standard of Proof) Bill 2025
- Voluntary Assisted Dying Amendment (Residential Facilities) Bill 2025
- Gaming Machines Amendment (Mandatory Shutdown Period) Bill 2025
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences) Bill 2025
BILLS DEBATED
- Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025
- Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Amendment Bill 2025
- Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025
BILLS PASSED
- Liquor Amendment (Airports) Bill 2025
- Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill (No 2) 2025
- Local Court and Bail Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following motions were debated in the House this week:
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| NSW Health using social media policy | Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Community preschool day of action | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to |
| Unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases in New South Wales, Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance – Reference | The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 20/Noes: 14) |
| 2nd Anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel | The Hon Chris Rath (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended, on division (Ayes: 27/Noes: 4) |
| March for Australia protests and multiculturalism | The Hon Mark Buttigieg (Labor) | Agreed to |
| Public Accountability and Works Committee – Amendment to Terms of Reference | The Hon Tania Mihailuk (Independent) | Negatived on division (Ayes: 16/Noes: 17) |
| Select Committee into the Failure of the Playing Surface at Allianz Stadium | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to on division (Ayes: 18/Noes: 12) |
IN COMMITTEES
The following new inquiries were either established or reported in the House this week:
- Potential breach of the privileges of the Hon Mark Latham MLC by a Racing NSW investigation, Privileges Committee
- Inquiry into the NSW Electoral Commission administration of electoral donation reporting in the Electoral District of Kogarah in 2014-2016, Public Accountability and Works Committee
- Inquiry into licences to harm native animals, Animal Welfare Committee
- State of live music in New South Wales, Standing Committee on Social Issues
- Unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases in New South Wales, Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance
The following committee reports were either tabled or reported in the House this week:
- Report no. 39 of the Selection of Bills of Committee, dated 14 October 2025
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 12 of 2025 of the Delegated Legislation Committee dated 14 October 2025
- Legislation Review Digest, report no. 36/58 of the Legislation Review Committee dated 14 October 2025
- Appropriation for the Services of the NSW Electoral Commission for the 2025-2026 financial year, report no. 3/58 of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters dated September 2025
- Appropriations for the services of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the Ombudsman’s Office for the 2025-26 financial year, report 2/58 of the Committee on the Ombudsman, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the Crime Commission dated September 2025
- Possible contempt arising from the inquiry into the proposal to develop Rosehill Racecourse – Part 1, report No. 102 of the Privileges Committee dated October 2025
- Review of the Health Care Complaints Commission 2023-24 annual report, report 2/58 of the Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission dated September 2025
- Draft Constitution (Disclosures by Members) Regulation 2025, Report No. 101 of the Privileges Committee dated October 2025
- Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Amendment Bill 2025, Report No. 54 of Portfolio Committee No. 3 – Education dated October 2025
- Public Toilets, report No. 4 of Portfolio Committee No. 8 – Customer Service dated October 2025
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Response of Mr Stephen Kinmond OAM to the Special Ministerial Inquiry into the Office of the Children’s Guardian | The Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones (Liberal) | Agreed to | 22 October 2025 |
| Special Ministerial Inquiry into the Office of the Children’s Guardian | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Agreed to | 22 October 2025 |