Current Legislation

There are three main branches to our Australian government: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.  Each has its own powers and responsibilities.  The Legislature consists of two houses of Parliament.  Federally there is the Senate and the House of Representatives.  In NSW the two houses are the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.  To find out who represents you go to the Contact your MP page.

 MAKING THE LAW
The Parliamentary process of law making in New South Wales is similar to that of other Australian and Westminster-style Parliaments. Broadly the proposed law (i.e. the Bill), once drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel’s office, is introduced in one house (most commonly the Legislative Assembly) where it must pass through three stages: First reading, Second reading and Third reading.  Debate on the Bill occurs during the Second Reading stage.

If the Bill is passed by a majority in the House of introduction it then passes on to the second house (most often the Upper House) which acts as a house of review, where it must pass through the same process again. If both houses agree on the Bill it passes on to the Governor of New South Wales for approval (i.e. Royal Assent) after which it becomes an Act of Parliament and part of the Law of New South Wales.  For more information on this process read Our Form of Government in Australia.

  Bills in the NSW Parliament - www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/nswbills.nsf/V3BillsHome

Legislation and issues of interest to Agriculture

 Hurlstone Agricultural High School Farm Land
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20090310011
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20090310030

 Orange and Wollongbar Veterinary Laboratories Closure
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20090310008

 Rural Industries Research Corporation Rural Women's Award
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20090310016

 Agricultural Education
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20090311027

 Condobolin Agricultural Research and Advisory Station
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20090311045

 Gloucester Coal Mining Licenses
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA20090304032

 Hurlstone Agricultural High School
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LC20090304045

 Murray-Darling Basin Sustainability
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA20090303007

 Farm Gate Prices
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LC20090305046

When does the Federal or NSW Parliament next sessional sitting occur?
 
 NSW Parliament sitting day’s link - http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/HHBSitDay

 Federal Parliament sitting day’s link - www.aph.gov.au/house/info/sittings/index.htm

 Legislation of interest before Parliament

Government Bills - 2009

Biofuel (Ethanol Content) Amendment Bill 2009
A Bill to amend the Biofuel (Ethanol Content) Act 2007 (the Act) as follows: (a) to provide for increases to the mandated minimum ethanol content for total petrol sales in NSW (currently 2%), (b) to make provision for a mandated minimum biodiesel content for total diesel fuel sales in NSW, (c) to provide that such mandates will apply to major retailers, in addition to primary wholesalers, of petrol and diesel fuel, (d) to provide that from July 2011 regular unleaded petrol sold in NSW by primary wholesalers must contain 10% ethanol. The Bill renames the Biofuel (Ethanol Content) Act 2007 as the Biofuels Act 2007.  Passed by Parliament 1/04/09.

Hawkesbury-Nepean River Bill 2009
The objects of this Bill are as follows: (a) to improve the co-ordination and implementation of management strategies in relation to the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system, (b) to improve public access to information about management strategies in relation to the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system, (c) to provide increased opportunities for public involvement in the development of management strategies in relation to the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system, (d) to improve the management of development in the Hawkesbury-Nepean waters (in-stream development). For that purpose, this Bill establishes the Office of the Hawkesbury-Nepean (the Office), as a statutory corporation, and confers functions on the Office in connection with maintaining or improving the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system and the management of in-stream development. Other public authorities with functions in relation to the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system will be required to co-operate with the Office.  Passed by Parliament 3/04/09.

Industrial Relations Amendment (Jurisdiction of Industrial Relations Commission) Bill 2009
The object of this Bill is to amend the Industrial Relations Act 1996 and certain other legislation to confer on the Industrial Relations Commission in Court Session (otherwise known as the Industrial Court of New South Wales) the criminal and civil jurisdiction that is currently exercised by Industrial Magistrates under that legislation. The Bill also provides that: (a) certain civil jurisdiction exercised by Industrial Magistrates will be retained by Local Courts sitting at various places (referred to as designated places) outside of the Sydney metropolitan area, and (b) Local Courts will cease to exercise criminal jurisdiction in relation to offences under the Industrial Relations Act 1996, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and certain other industrial legislation, and (c) existing Industrial Magistrates will continue in office as Local Court Magistrates.

Western Lands Amendment Bill 2008
The object of this Bill is to amend the Western Lands Act 1901 (the Principal Act) so as: (a) to provide for the creation of easements to maintain the dog-proof fences that are erected, pursuant to the Wild Dog Destruction Act 1921, along parts of the New South Wales/Queensland and New South Wales/South Australia borders, and (b) to increase the membership of the Western Lands Advisory Council from 14 to 15, and (c) to clarify the powers that may be exercised in relation to the establishment of fencing conditions for Western Lands leases, and (d) to clarify the powers that may be exercised in relation to the creation of public roads over freehold land in the Western Division, and (e) to clarify the objects of the Principal Act, and (f) to bring the local land boards established for the Western Division into the scheme for local land boards established under the Crown Lands Act 1989. Council

Associations Incorporation Bill 2009
The object of this Bill is to repeal and re-enact the Associations Incorporation Act 1984. The proposed Act, like the current Act, provides for the incorporation of certain kinds of associations and regulates the conduct of their affairs. The proposed Act, unlike the current Act: (a) distinguishes between large (Tier 1) and small (Tier 2) associations for the purposes of financial reporting, so enabling tighter reporting and auditing requirements to be imposed on the former, and (b) requires an association’s public officer, and at least 3 of its committee members, to be resident in Australia, and (c) requires an association’s committee members to disclose their pecuniary interests in any matters to be discussed at a committee meeting, and (d) creates a number of offences with respect to fraudulent behaviour and misuse of confidential information by an association’s committee members, and (e) enables an association to be ordered to change its name if the name under which it is registered is unacceptable for any of a number of specified reasons.  Assembly

Private Member Bills and Motions– 2009

Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill 2008 – Ms Moore
The object of this Bill is to protect the lives and well-being of cats, dogs and other mammals (but not livestock) as follows:(a) by prohibiting the keeping of cats and dogs at shops or markets for the purposes of their sale, (b) by prohibiting the sale of cats and dogs at or from shops or markets, (c) by prohibiting the display of mammals other than cats or dogs in shop windows or in parts of shops visible to passers-by, (d) by regulating the advertising of the sale of cats and dogs, (e) by requiring any person who offers a cat or dog for sale to inform prospective purchasers of the basic care requirements of the animal, (f) by restricting who can carry on the business of selling cats or dogs, or breeding cats or dogs for sale. The Bill also amends other Acts and Regulations. Assembly

Hurlstone Agricultural High School Site Bill – Hon Charlie Lynn MLC
A bill for an Act to require the Hurlstone Agricultural High School site to be retained for educational purposes.  Council

Hurlstone Agricultural High School Site Bill – Mr Andrew Stoner MP
A bill for an Act to require the Hurlstone Agricultural High School site to be retained for educational purposes. Assembly

Mining Amendment (Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water) Bill – Ms Lee Rhiannon MLC
A bill for an Act to amend the Mining Act 1992 to make provision for protecting agricultural land and water from mining. Council

Gene Technology (GM Crop Moratorium) Amendment (Right to Damages) Bill – Mr Ian Cohen MLC
A bill for an Act to amend the Gene Technology (GM Crop Moratorium) Act 2003 to impose liability in tort for harm caused by certain genetically engineered organisms. Council

Protection of Public Ownership Bill –  Dr John Kaye MLC
A bill for an Act to prevent, without the approval of Parliament, the privatisation of publicly-owned assets or agencies or of services provided by those agencies; and for other purposes. Council

Hon Charlie Lynn MLC —
That this House acknowledges the outstanding academic record of Hurlstone Agricultural High School in the field of agriculture over the past 101 years. Council

Dr John  Kaye MLC —
That this House notes: (a) industry self-regulation by the Australian Egg Corporation of the labelling of free range and other ethical choice eggs has failed to protect consumers who are seeking eggs that have been produced with the minimum of animal suffering, and (b) the Australian Egg Corporation’s definition of ‘free range eggs’ inadequately expresses commonly held views of acceptable treatment of chickens.  2. That this House calls on the Government to introduce regulatory measures that create and enforce standardised definitions of ‘free range’, ‘open range’, ‘barn laid’ and other commonly used labels to provide certainty to consumers seeking ethically produced eggs. Council

Dr John Kaye MLC —
1. That this House notes: (a) that neither New South Wales nor Commonwealth laws specify the labelling of animal derived food products which would disclose the farming production method used, (b) that neither New South Wales nor Commonwealth laws specify definitions of farm production methods for animal-derived food products, such as “free-range” or “bred freerange”, (c) that a growing number of consumers are seeking food produced in ways that minimise the harm and suffering to animals and avoid intensive animal farming methods, (d) the absence of regulations specifying the labelling of farm production methods disadvantages many small and medium sized farmers by failing to protect their market from unscrupulous branding that misleads consumers seeking products derived from less intensive animal farming methods, and (e) that a consistent and rigorous system of labelling for all animal-derived food products would reward those farmers and food processors who minimise harm and suffering to animals in their care.

2. That this House calls on the Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister for Health to move at the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council for the development of consistent and comprehensive regulation for food labelling disclosing the farming production method of animal-derived food products. Council