The Legislative Council was back in session this week, for its first sitting week of 2026. The summer break may have felt shorter than usual for some, with the House having been recalled on 22 and 23 December 2025 to pass the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and debate a condolence motion honouring the victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.
This week, the House was back to business as usual with seven new bills introduced, five passed, and one negatived. It is not often that a Government bill is negatived, meaning that it will not progress further through the Parliament, but when this happens it is usually at the second reading stage, before amendments are considered. What was unusual this time was that the bill was negatived at the third read, after an extensive consideration of amendments in committee of the whole.
In addition, three new committee inquiries were established, and five orders for papers agreed to, signaling a busy start to the year.
On Tuesday, the House gathered to honour Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO, former Governor of NSW, through a condolence motion and a statement by the President. You can read the full condolence motion in the Hansard record.
Read on to find out more about what happened in the House this week…
BILLS INTRODUCED
- Parliamentary Evidence Amendment (Attendance of Witnesses) Bill 2026
- Constitution Amendment (Parliamentary Cooling-Off Period) Bill 2026
- Constitution (Parliamentary Cooling-Off Period—Referendum) Bill 2026
- Prevention of Antisemitism Bill 2026
- Crimes Amendment (Countering Violent Extremism) Bill 2026
- Library Amendment Bill 2026
- Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2026
BILL DEBATED
BILLS PASSED
- Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Bill 2025
- Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (No 2) 2025
- Forestry Amendment (Bungabbee State Forest Revocation) Bill 2025
- Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
BILLS NEGATIVED
IN COMMITTEES
The following new inquiries were either established or reported in the House this week:
- Data centres, Public Accountability and Works Committee
- Management, maintenance and operational issues at Calvary Mater Hospital, Newcastle, Portfolio Committee No. 8 – Customer Service
- Residential Tenancies Amendment (Protection of Personal Information) Bill 2025, Portfolio Committee No. 8 – Customer Service
The following committee reports were either tabled or reported in the House this week:
- Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 1 of 2026, report of the Delegated Legislation Committee dated 3 February 2026
- Legislation Review Digest No. 40/58, report of the Legislation Review Committee dated 3 February 2026
GENERAL MOTIONS
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Bondi lifeguards’ and lifesavers’ responses to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack | The Hon Tania Mihailuk (Independent) | Agreed to |
| Microplastics in New South Wales, and continued here | Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens) | Agreed to |
| Renewable energy and battery storage in New South Wales | The Hon Stepehen Lawrence (Labor) | Agreed to, as amended, on division (Ayes: 29/Noes: 8) |
| Operation Metro Surge, Minneapolis and Minnesota | Ms Cate Faehrmann (The Greens) | Agreed to, as amended, on division (Ayes: 20/Noes: 15) |
| First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme | The Hon Dr Sarah Kaine (Labor) | Agreed to |
| Identity suppression of hospital patients | The Hon Susan Carter (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended |
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Electoral funding disclosures – Further Order | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to, as amended | 25 February 2026 |
| Maintenance and cleanliness of hospitals in New South Wales | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to | 25 February 2026 |
| Toll review, reform and relief – Further Order | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Agreed to | 11 February 2026 |
| Abuse in the greyhound racing industry – Further Order | The Hon Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) | Agreed to | 4 March 2026 |
| Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct revitalisation | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Agreed to | 18 February 2026 |