The final sitting week of 2025 saw the Legislative Council pass three noteworthy bills, each significant in their own way. One addressed the age of criminal responsibility for children between 10 and 14 years old, another expanded police powers to move protestors near places of worship, and the third concerned the management of wild horses within Kosciuszko National Park. The committee stage for each bill was extensive, with numerous amendments considered, resulting in a substantial portion of the week devoted to these discussions. Additionally, the House agreed to eight orders for papers and debated motions concerning the Council’s late sittings, which extended beyond the standard “hard adjournment” time of 10:00 for 10:30 PM.
As is tradition on the last sitting day of the year, members of the House engaged in round of seasonal felicitations, taking the opportunity to recognise and commend the efforts of their staff, colleagues and other members throughout the past year.
The House will sit again on 3 February 2026, although in the meantime members will be very busy with their work on multiple committee inquiries. Read on to find out more about what happened in the House this week…
BILLS DEBATED
BILLS PASSED
- Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
- Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025
- Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Repeal Bill 2025
IN COMMITTEES
The following new inquiries were also established in the House this week:
- Impact of overnight sittings on members and parliamentary staff, Procedure Committee
- Provisions of the protocol with the Independent Commission Against Corruption adopted by the Legislative Assembly, Privileges Committee
- Special report on the unauthorised disclosure of in camera evidence given on 19 September 2025, Privileges Committee
The following committee reports were either tabled or reported in the House this week:
- Report no. 43 of the Selection of Bills of Committee, dated 25 November 2025
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 16 of 2025 of the Delegated Legislation Committee dated 25 November 2025
- Special report on the unauthorised disclosure of in camera evidence given on 19 September 2025, report no. 7 of the Public Accounts and Works Committee dated November 2025
- Review of the 2023-2024 annual reports of the Ageing and Disability Commission, report No. 1/58 of the Committee on Ageing and Disability
GENERAL MOTIONS
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Suspension of Standing Order 34 – Hard Adjournment on Wednesday 26 November 2025 | The Hon Penny Sharpe (Labor) | Negatived, on division (Ayes: 19/Noes: 20) |
| Work health and safety impacts of overnight sittings | The Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Suspension of Standing Order 34 — Hard Adjournment on Thursday 27 November 2025 | The Hon Penny Sharpe (Labor) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 21 / Noes: 15) |
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Five year contract extension to Coulson Aviation | The Hon John Ruddick (Libertarian Party) | Agreed to | 24 December 2025 |
| Incident at NSW Parliament House – Further Order (26 November 2025) | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 20/Noes: 15) | 3 December 2025 |
| Toll review, reform and relief | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Agreed to | 14 January 2026 |
| Management of mallee and broombrush | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to, as amended | Documents captured by paragraph (1) of the order to be tabled by 24 December 2025. Documents captured by paragraph (2) of the order to be tabled by 14 January 2026 |
| Cybersecurity | The Hon Jacqui Munro (Liberal) | Agreed to | 24 December 2025 |
| Game and Pest Management Advisory Board | The Hon Scott Barrett (Nationals) | Agreed to | 17 December 2025 |
| Moree Action Plan | The Hon Susan Carter (Liberal) | Agreed to | 24 December 2025 |
| NSW Forestry Corporation’s Koala Habitat Restoration Project | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Agreed to | 24 December 2025 |