Minutes of Proceedings
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1 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS No. 1 TUESDAY 5 MAY 2015 Contents 1 Opening of Parliament ................................................................................................................................. 2 2 Proclamation ................................................................................................................................................ 2 3 Commission to Open Parliament .................................................................................................................. 2 4 Commissioners’ Message to the Council and Assembly .............................................................................. 3 5 Members elected at Periodic Council Election ............................................................................................ 4 6 Commission to Administer the Pledge of Loyalty or Oath of Allegiance to Members ................................ 4 7 Members Sworn ........................................................................................................................................... 5 8 Vacancy in the Office of President ............................................................................................................... 6 9 Election of President .................................................................................................................................... 6 10 Prayer ........................................................................................................................................................... 6 11 Presentation of President to His Excellency the Governor ........................................................................... 6 12 Election of Deputy President and Chair of Committees ............................................................................... 6 13 Election of Assistant President ..................................................................................................................... 7 14 Conduct of Business ..................................................................................................................................... 7 15 Ministerial Statement—New Administration ............................................................................................... 7 16 Ministerial Statement—Senior Ministers ..................................................................................................... 9 17 Ministerial Statement—Parliamentary Secretaries ....................................................................................... 9 18 Leadership—Government .......................................................................................................................... 10 19 Government Whip ...................................................................................................................................... 10 20 Ministerial Statement—Representation of Government in the Legislative Council .................................. 10 21 Leadership—Opposition ............................................................................................................................ 11 22 Opposition Whip ........................................................................................................................................ 12 23 The Greens—Leadership............................................................................................................................ 12 24 Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)—Leadership ..................................................................... 12 25 Shooters and Fishers Party—Leadership ................................................................................................... 12 26 Pro-forma Bill—Law of Evidence Bill ...................................................................................................... 12 27 Presence of Governor ................................................................................................................................. 12 28 Adjournment .............................................................................................................................................. 24 29 Attendance ................................................................................................................................................. 25 2 Legislative Council Minutes No. 1—Tuesday 5 May 2015 1 OPENING OF PARLIAMENT The Council met at 10.00 am according to Proclamation of His Excellency the Governor. 2 PROCLAMATION The Proclamation convening Parliament was read by the Clerk, as follows: PROCLAMATION NEW SOUTH WALES By His Excellency General The Honourable DAVID HURLEY, TO WIT Companion of the Order of Australia, Distinguished Service Cross, (Retired), DAVID HURLEY Governor of the State of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Governor Australia WHEREAS the Legislative Council now stands prorogued to Tuesday, 5 May 2015; Now I, in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution Act 1902, hereby proclaim that the said Legislative Council and also the Legislative Assembly shall assemble for the despatch of business on 5 May 2015, at 10:00 o’clock in the morning, in the premises known as Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney: and the Members of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly are hereby required to attend at that time and place. GIVEN under my hand and Seal, at Sydney, this twenty ninth day of April 2015. By His Excellency’s Command, MIKE BAIRD Premier GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! 3 COMMISSION TO OPEN PARLIAMENT The Clerk informed the House that His Excellency the Governor of the State of New South Wales had been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Public Seal of the State, appointing the Honourable Duncan John Gay MLC, Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, and Vice-President of the Executive Council, the Honourable John George Ajaka MLC, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism, and the Honourable Niall Blair MLC, Minister for Primary Industries, and Minister for Lands and Water, Commissioners, for the opening and holding of this session of Parliament. The Commissioners took their places on the Dais. A Commissioner (Mr Gay) directed the Usher of the Black Rod to let the Legislative Assembly know that the Commissioners request the immediate attendance of the Legislative Assembly in this House to hear the Commission for the opening of Parliament read. The Assembly came. Members of both Houses were seated at the request of the Commissioners. A Commissioner (Mr Gay) said: HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 3 Legislative Council Minutes No. 1—Tuesday 5 May 2015 His Excellency has been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Public Seal of the State constituting us Commissioners with full power, in the name of His Excellency, to open this session of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly and to deliver messages to the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, and to do all such things as may be necessary to enable Parliament or the Legislative Council or Legislative Assembly to proceed to despatch of business. The Clerk read the Commission, as follows: His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley, Companion of the Order of Australia, Distinguished Service Cross, (Retired), Governor of the State of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Australia GREETING: Whereas by Proclamation made by me this day, I, General The Honourable David Hurley, AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of the State of New South Wales, in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution Act 1902, proclaimed that a Session of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly should be held and should commence on Tuesday, the fifth day of May 2015, at the time and place mentioned in the said Proclamation; NOW I, General The Honourable David Hurley, AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of the State of New South Wales, trusting in the Honourable Duncan John Gay MLC, Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, and Vice-President of the Executive Council, the Honourable John George Ajaka MLC, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism, and the Honourable Niall Blair MLC, Minister for Primary Industries, and Minister for Lands and Water, with the advice of the Executive Council, give and grant unto the said DUNCAN JOHN GAY MLC, JOHN GEORGE AJAKA MLC, and NIALL BLAIR MLC, or any two of them, full power in my name to open the said Session of the said Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly on the fifth day of May 2015, and in my name, at the opening of the said Parliament, to deliver messages to the Legislative Council and to the Legislative Assembly, and to do all such things as may be necessary to enable Parliament or the Legislative Council or the Legislative Assembly to proceed to dispatch of business. Given under my Hand and the Public Seal of the State, this twenty ninth day of April 2015. By His Excellency’s Command, MIKE BAIRD DAVID HURLEY Premier Governor 4 COMMISSIONERS’ MESSAGE TO THE COUNCIL AND ASSEMBLY A Commissioner (Mr Gay) then said: HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY We have it in command from the Governor, to acquaint you that the Governor desires that you take into your earnest consideration such matters as may be submitted to you. A Commissioner (Mr Ajaka) then said: MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE