The Legislative Council returned to session this week for the first of two March sitting weeks. Over the course of this eventful week, the House debated a private members’ bill on a Government business day, repealed a sessional order, disallowed a regulation and censured the Leader of the Government.
On Tuesday, a conduct of business motion moved by Leader of the Opposition in the Council the Hon Damien Tudehope, was agreed to allowing the House to debate a private members’ bill on a Government business day. The bill, the Parliamentary Evidence Amendment (Attendance of Witnesses) Bill 2026 would reinstate the powers of the Council in relation to the attendance of witnesses before Upper House committees, recently struck down in the decision of the Court of Appeal in Cullen v President of the Legislative Council .
On Thursday, the Opposition further sought to allow amendments to the Parliamentary Evidence Act 1901 in relation to the attendance of witnesses to be considered during debate on other bills. With the President reserving his ruling on this until a future sitting of the House, several bills on Thursday were adjourned before similar amendments were considered.
The House also agreed to repeal Sessional Order 140, related to the initiation of public bills in the Legislative Council. This sessional order varied Standing Order 140, enabling Government to give notice of a bill and introduce it on the same day.
Read on for more…
CENSURE OF THE LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
On Wednesday, the House agreed to a motion, moved by the Hon Mark Latham (Independent) censuring of the Leader of the Government in the Council, the Hon Penny Sharpe, for non-compliance with an order for papers related to an incident at NSW Parliament House.
The following day, as no documents had been submitted, the President called on the Leader of the Government to explain the continued non‑compliance with the order for papers. Minister Sharpe addressed the House, noting that she would seek further legal advice and provide a more detailed explanation when the House sits again on Tuesday 24 March 2026. Read Minister Sharpe’s full statement in the Hansard record.
DISALLOWANCE MOTIONS
One of the Legislative Council’s robust powers is its ability to disallow delegated legislation. This includes laws such as regulations, statutory rules, by-laws, and similar measures, which are established by the executive under the authority of Parliament.
This week, the Council debated a disallowance motion related to the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment (Exempt Persons) Regulation 2026, which was agreed to on division (Ayes: 22/Noes: 14). This means that this regulation immediately ceased to have effect.
BILLS INTRODUCED
BILLS DEBATED
- Electoral Funding Amendment (Major Political Donors) Bill 2025
- Crimes Amendment (Countering Violent Extremism) Bill 2026
- Local Government and Other Legislation Amendment (Places of Public Worship) Bill 2026
- Surveillance Devices Amendment (Public Interest Exceptions) Bill 2026
- Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment (Landlord Offences) Bill 2025
- Library Amendment Bill 2026
- Roads Legislation Amendment (NSW Motorways) Bill 2025
BILLS PASSED
IN COMMITTEES
The following committee reports were either tabled or reported in the House this week:
- Report no. 45 of the Selection of Bills of Committee, dated 17 March 2026
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 3 of 2026 of the Delegated Legislation Committee dated March 2026
- Legislation Review Digest No. 42/58, report of the Legislation Review Committee dated 17 March 2026
- Evidence consolidation report from the inquiry into antisemitism in New South Wales, report no. 64 of Portfolio Committee No. 5 – Justice and Communities dated February 2026
- Foundational and Disability Supports Available for Children and Young People in New South Wales: First report, report No. 1 of the Select Committee on Foundational and Disability Supports Available for Children and Young People in New South Wales dated February 2026
- Annual amount distributed to minor parties from the administration fund, Report of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters dated February 2026
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following general motions were debated over the course of the week
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| United Nations World Fertility 2024 Report | The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) | Agreed to |
| Union support of the New South Wales forestry industry | The Hon Nichole Overall (Nationals) | Agreed to |
| Censure of the Leader of the Government – Non-compliance with an order for papers | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 19/Noes: 13) |
| Permanent Sydney toll cap | The Hon Bob Nanva (Labor) | Agreed to, as amended, on division (Ayes: 18/Noes: 10) |
| Domestic violence services and murders of women | Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) | Agreed to |
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Reginald Kenneth Arthurell | The Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended | 25 March 2026 and 1 April 2026 |
| Review of criminal law protections against the incitement of hatred | Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens) | Agreed to | 1 April 2026 |
| After-action review into the hazard reduction burn at Oxford Falls | The Hon Scott Barrett (Nationals) | Agreed to | 8 April 2026 |
| New England transmission line route options | The Hon Mark Banasiak (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party) | Agreed to, as amended | 22 April 2026 |
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