It was Budget Week in the Parliament of NSW this week, and on Tuesday the Treasurer the Hon Daniel Mookhey, a member of the Legislative Council, entered the Legislative Assembly chamber to introduce the 2026-27 budget bills. With the Constitution Act 1902 requiring budget bills to be introduced in the Assembly, the Treasurer is given special permission to enter the Assembly to deliver his budget speech.
The handing down of the Budget this week also marks the start of the 2026-27 Budget Estimates process. On Wednesday, the House agreed to a motion establishing this year’s inquiry and setting out the schedule for the first round of hearings. Hearings will begin on 18 August and run through to 2 September. Keep an eye on the Budget Estimates webpage for more details.
Readers would be aware of the ongoing dispute between the Government and the House over the production of documents relating to an incident at NSW Parliament House, with the Leader of the Government, the Hon Penny Sharpe, having been suspended from the House for the previous two sitting weeks due to the non-production of these documents. On Tuesday she returned and was once again required to provide an explanation to the House. Read Minister Sharpe’s explanation in full in the Hansard record. Subsequently, the Hon Mark Latham (Independent) again moved to find Minister Sharpe guilty of contempt, suspending her from the House until the next sitting week. However an amendment to this motion, moved by Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) was agreed to, which requires the President of the Legislative Council to seek independent legal advice on whether this order for papers is valid. This advice will particularly consider whether the documents relate to the administration of justice and whether the Government’s interpretation of that concept is sound. This advice is to be tabled in the House on the next sitting day, Tuesday 4 August 2026. Read this motion in full in the Hansard record.
The House also agreed to adopt a protocol with the Independent Commission Against Corruption, previously adopted by the Legislative Assembly, authorising the President to formalise the agreement with the Chief Commissioner. This protocol was included in the recent Privileges Committee report, Provisions of the protocol with the Independent Commission Against Corruption adopted by the Legislative Assembly, tabled on 14 May 2026.
In other business, the House also passed six bills, including the three budget bills, and agreed to nine orders for papers. Read on to find out more about what happened in the Legislative Council this week…
BILLS INTRODUCED
BILLS DEBATED
- Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
- Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Sex Selection Prohibition) Bill 2025
BILLS PASSED
- Property and Stock Agents Amendment (Underquoting and Other Agent Conduct) Bill 2026
- Appropriation Bill 2026
- Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2026
- Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
- Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026
- Sporting Venues Authorities Amendment Bill 2025
IN COMMITTEES
On Wednesday, the House agreed to establish a new inquiry: the Select Committee into the Football in Schools program. More details about this inquiry will be published on our website soon.
The House also agreed to establish a Privileges Committee inquiry to review the Members’ Code of Conduct (2026). Read more about this inquiry on our website.
The following committee reports were either tabled or reported in the House this week:
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 8 of 2026 of the Delegated Legislation Committee, dated June 2026
- Legislation Review Digest, report no. 48/58 of the Legislation Review Committee, dated 23 June 2026
- Report no. 50 of the Selection of Bills Committee, dated 23 June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 68 of Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance dated June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 67 of Portfolio Committee No. 2 – Health dated June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 67 of Portfolio Committee No. 3 – Education dated June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 67 of Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Regional NSW dated June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 67 of Portfolio Committee No. 5 – Justice and Communities dated June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 67 of Portfolio Committee No. 6 – Transport and the Arts dated June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 67 of Portfolio Committee No. 7 – Planning and Environment dated June 2026
- Budget Estimates 2025-2026, report No. 67 of Portfolio Committee No. 8 – Customer Service dated June 2026
- Impact of the new Office for Youth on the functioning and independence of the Advocate for Children and Young People, report No. 3/58 of Committee on Children and Young People the dated June 2026
- Display of electoral posters and other electoral signage at voting centres, report 5/58 of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters dated June 2026
- 2025 Inquiry into the operation of the approved charitable organisations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, report no. 64 of Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Regional NSW
GENERAL MOTIONS
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Select Committee into the Football in Schools Program | The Hon Wes Fang (Nationals) | Agreed to |
| Health-led response to mental health emergencies in New South Wales | Dr Amanda Cohn (The Greens) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Evidence provided to Inquiry into Unsolved Murders and Long-term Missing Persons Cases in New South Wales between 1965 and 2010 | The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis Party) | Agreed to |