On private members' business day two new – but somewhat familiar – bills were introduced, one regarding double jeopardy laws and the other a moratorium on declaring new marine parks. A motion commemorating ANZAC Day 2018 was debated and agreed to and further motions on government infrastructure projects and agricultural shows were debated.
In the House – Wednesday 15 August 2018
On a relatively short sitting day for a Wednesday, the House debated a disallowance motion, introduced a new Government bill, considered and returned three Government bills to the Legislative Assembly and still had time for, not one, but two joint sittings.
In the House – Tuesday 14 August 2018
Two Government bills passed, four committee reports debated, two returns to orders tabled and a member resigns
In the House – Thursday 21 June 2018
The House finished the week by again considering the Government’s compliance with orders for papers, and the House’s powers to compel the production of these documents – in particular Cabinet documents. The House also agreed to Assembly amendments to the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 introduced by Mr Green (Christian Democratic Party). This is the second time this Parliament that a private members’ bill originating in the Council has been agreed to by the Assembly. Several other items of private members’ business were considered, before the House finished the day by agreeing to the budget bills and returning them to the Assembly without amendment. The House stands adjourned to Tuesday 14 August 2018.
In the House – Wednesday 20 June 2018
On the last government business day before the winter recess the House adjourned in the early hours of the morning in consequence of its heavy legislative workload. The House agreed to five government bills and Assembly amendments to a sixth bill originating in the Council. The House set down consideration of a further two government bills received from the Assembly for after the winter recess.
In the House – Thursday 7 June 2018
Thursday was a standard private members’ business day in the Council, with the exception of a message from the Assembly agreeing to a private members’ bill (the Modern Slavery Bill) subject to 22 amendments made in the other place. The House debated three private members’ motions before adjourning until 19 June, Budget Day, and the final sitting week before the winter recess.
In the House – Wednesday 6 June 2018
In another eventful day for the Council, the House again considered the Government’s response to orders for the production of documents. The documents ordered are now expected to be provided by 5.00 pm Friday 8 June. The heavy legislative workload continued in the lead up to the winter recess, with the House adjourning after midnight for the second time this week. In a significant development, the House agreed to amendments to the Government Sector Finance bills. The amendments, if agreed to by the Legislative Assembly, would reconstitute the Public Accounts Committee as a joint parliamentary committee with members from both Houses.
In the House – Thursday 24 May 2018
On Thursday the House spent most of the day debating a single private members’ bill: the Public Health Amendment (Safe Access to Reproductive Health Clinics) Bill 2018, introduced by Ms Sharpe (Opposition) and co-sponsored by Mr Khan (The Nationals). Numerous members contributed to the debate, resulting in the House sitting past its usual adjournment time in order to conclude proceedings on the bill. The bill was ultimately agreed to without amendment and has been forwarded to the Assembly for consideration. Before proceeding to consider Ms Sharpe’s bill, Revd Mr Nile (Christian Democratic Party) had introduced the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Freedoms) Bill 2018.
In the House – Wednesday 23 May 2018
After dinner on Wednesday the House began debating the Electoral Funding Bill 2018. By the time the House rose just before 3 am on Thursday morning, and after nearly six hours of debate, 57 amendments had been moved and 16 amendments agreed to. A further four bills were introduced ahead of Friday’s cut-off date for the introduction of government bills during this sitting period. Another government bill was received from the Legislative Assembly and agreed to without amendment.
In the House – Tuesday 22 May 2018
The week started with Ministers Harwin and Blair giving notice of four new government bills, which are expected to be introduced this week. The House agreed to two government bills introduced in the Council the previous week: the Road Transport Legislation Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2018 and the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2) 2018. The bills are now with the Assembly for consideration. The House was also informed of the receipt of the report of the Independent Legal Arbiter on a disputed claim of privilege concerning certain documents produced last month relating to Sydney Stadiums. The report is available for inspection by members of the Legislative Council.