It was another busy sitting week in the Legislative Council, with two successful motions censuring the Leader of the Government over the non-production of documents ordered by the House, the disallowance of a local government meeting regulation, bills introduced, debated and passed, committee reports tabled, and several new orders for papers agreed to.
Read on to find out more about what happened in the Legislative Council this week…
CENSURE OF THE LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT
The Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council was censured twice this week for non-compliance with two separate orders for papers.
The first concerned an order to produce a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996, which the Government indicated is exempt on Cabinet-in-confidence grounds. This motion was moved by the Hon Wes Fang (Nationals) and was agreed to on division (Ayes: 18/Noes: 13). Read the full debate in the Hansard record.
The second censure motion, moved by Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens), concerned the House’s repeated orders for documents relating to an incident at New South Wales Parliament House. This matter has been ongoing for many months, with the Government consistently refusing to provide documents in response to repeated orders of the House, on the basis that the documents concern the “administration of justice” and should be sought under standing order 55 rather than standing order 52. The censure motion was agreed to on division (Ayes: 19/Noes: 14). Read the motion in full in the Hansard record.
DISALLOWANCE MOTIONS
The Legislative Council has the power to disallow delegated legislation, including regulations, statutory rules and by-laws made by the Executive under authority granted by Parliament.
On Tuesday, the House debated a disallowance motion, moved by the Hon Jacqui Munro (Liberal), regarding the Local Government (General) Amendment (Meetings Regulation 2026. The motion was agreed to on division (Ayes: 19/Noes: 16), meaning the regulation ceased to have effect immediately.
BILLS INTRODUCED
BILLS DEBATED
BILLS PASSED
- Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill (No 2) 2026
- Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Organised Crimes Reforms) Bill 2026
- Residential Tenancies Amendment (Protection of Personal Information) Bill 2025
- Local Jobs First Bill 2026
A FOCUS ON COMMITTEES
On Tuesday of this week, the Clerk announced receipt of New South Wales university governance: Final report, report No. 68 of the Standing Committee on Social Issues dated September 2026. The report is the culmination of a year-long inquiry with eight public hearings that examined each of the public universities around the state as well as the tertiary sector as a whole. Each of these universities is established specifically by New South Wales enabling Acts. These Acts not only establish the universities as statutory bodies, but also define their public functions, governance arrangements and responsibilities to the people of NSW.
The committee released an interim report in April. The unanimously adopted final report makes 21 findings and 23 recommendations setting out a comprehensive framework for governance reform across NSW universities. The recommendations are directed at reorienting university governance towards public stewardship, strengthening the representation of staff and students in decision-making, improving transparency and accountability, enhancing conflict of interest safeguards, strengthening oversight of executive decision-making and remuneration, improving scrutiny of consultant expenditure and controlled entities, protecting staff and student wellbeing, and restoring confidence in collegial governance processes.
In addition, the following committee reports were tabled in the House this week:
- Report No. 53 Selection of Bills Committee, dated 22 September 2026
- Delegated Legislation Monitor, report no. 11 of the Delegated Legislation Committee dated September 2026
- Legislation Review Digest, report no. 51/58 of the Legislation Review Committee dated 22 September 2026
GENERAL MOTIONS
| Topic | Moved by | Agreed to? |
| Evidence-based Drug Reform and Effects of Prohibition Policies | The Hon Jeremy Buckingham (Legalise Cannabis) | Negatived, on division (Ayes: 7/Noes: 27) |
| Housing Investment in New South Wales | The Hon Emily Suvaal (Labor) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Defence Sites in New South Wales | The Hon Jacqui Monro (Liberal) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Inquiry into the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions | The Hon Mark Latham (Independent) | Negatived, on division (Ayes: 14/Noes: 19) |
| Transfer of Urban Roads Fund Projects to Regional Roads Fund | The Hon Nichole Overall (Nationals) | Agreed to, as amended |
| Censure of Leader of the Government—Non-compliance with an order for papers | The Hon Wes Fang (Nationals) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 18/Noes: 13) |
| Censure of Leader of the Government—Non-compliance with an order for papers | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 19/Noes: 14) |
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
| Request | Moved by | Agreed to? | Due date |
| Mr Michael Newman, former Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner | The Hon Tania Mihailuk (Independent) | Agreed to | 21 October 2026 |
| Refurbishment or replacement of the Tangara fleet | The Hon Natalie Ward (Liberal) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 23/Noes: 15) | 14 October 2026 |
| Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme projects | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Agreed to, as amended | 23 October 2026 |
| Safety in hospitals, health facilities or services | The Hon Sarah Mitchell (Nationals) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes: 23/Noes 15) | 14 October 2026 |
| Early childhood education and care sector funding | Ms Abigail Boyd (The Greens) | Agreed to | 7 October 2026 |
| Censure of the Leader of the Government – Non-compliance with an order for papers | The Hon Wes Fang (Nationals) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes 18/Noes 13) | 30 September 2026 |
| Censure of the Leader of the Government – Non-compliance with an order for papers | Ms Sue Higginson (The Greens) | Agreed to, on division (Ayes 19/Noes 14) | 1 October 2026 |