753 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Thursday 12 May 2011 __________ The President (The Hon. Donald Thomas Harwin) took the chair at 9.30 a.m. The President read the Prayers. INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Report The President tabled, pursuant to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, a report entitled "Investigation into the Solicitation of a Corrupt Payment by a Strathfield Municipal Council Officer", dated May 2011, received and authorised to be made public this day. Ordered to be printed on motion by the Hon. Duncan Gay. PETITIONS Planning and Development Petition requesting the House immediately repeal part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and establish an independent planning body to assess State infrastructure, and that all development applications be determined by elected local councils, received from Mr David Shoebridge. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders: Precedence of Business The Hon. DUNCAN GAY (Minister for Roads and Ports) [9.36 a.m.]: I move: That standing and sessional orders be suspended to allow the moving of a motion forthwith relating to the conduct of business of the House. The Hon. AMANDA FAZIO [9.36 a.m.]: I am happy to support the motion because it will allow us to finalise the establishment of the general purpose standing committees of this House. Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and resolved in the affirmative. Motion agreed to. Precedence of Business Motion by the Hon. Duncan Gay agreed to: That, notwithstanding the sessional order for precedence of business, General Business take precedence this day after the conclusion of debate on Government Business Notices of Motions Nos 1 and 2. GENERAL PURPOSE STANDING COMMITTEES Appointment and Portfolio Responsibilities The Hon. DUNCAN GAY (Minister for Roads and Ports) [9.38 a.m.] I seek leave to amend Government Business Notice of Motion No. 1 by omitting paragraph 1 and inserting instead a new 754 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 12 May 2011 paragraph 1. After consultation with the Opposition and crossbench members, I advise that this is an agreed position. I am sure that all members would acknowledge that this is the way the House should be run. New paragraph 1 reads: 1. Five General Purpose Standing Committees, reflecting Government Ministers' portfolio responsibilities, be appointed as follows: (a) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 1—Economic Development Premier Western Sydney Treasury Finance and Services Planning and Infrastructure Trade and Investment The Illawarra (b) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2—Community and Services Health Medical Research Education Mental Health Healthy Lifestyles Ageing Aboriginal Affairs Disability Services Family and Community Services Women Citizenship and Communities Western New South Wales Sports and Recreation (c) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 3—Transport, Regional Infrastructure and Services Regional Infrastructure and Services Special Minister of State Transport Roads Ports Tourism Major Events Hospitality Racing The Arts The Central Coast The Legislature (d) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 4—Law, Justice and Safety Attorney General Justice Police Emergency Services The Hunter (e) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 5—Environment, Accountability and Regulation The Environment Heritage Small Business Local Government Fair Trading Primary Industries Resources and Energy The North Coast Leave granted. 12 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 755 Motion by the Hon. Duncan Gay agreed to: Appointment 1. Five General Purpose Standing Committees, reflecting Government Ministers' portfolio responsibilities, be appointed as follows: (a) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 1—Economic Development Premier Western Sydney Treasury Finance and Services Planning and Infrastructure Trade and Investment The Illawarra (b) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2—Community and Services Health Medical Research Education Mental Health Healthy Lifestyles Ageing Aboriginal Affairs Disability Services Family and Community Services Women Citizenship and Communities Western New South Wales Sports and Recreation (c) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 3—Transport, Regional Infrastructure and Services Regional Infrastructure and Services Special Minister of State Transport Roads Ports Tourism Major Events Hospitality Racing The Arts The Central Coast The Legislature (d) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 4—Law Justice and Safety Attorney General Justice Police Emergency Services The Hunter (e) General Purpose Standing Committee No. 5—Environment, Accountability and Regulation The Environment Heritage Small Business Local Government Fair Trading Primary Industries Resources and Energy The North Coast Referral of inquiries 2. (1) A committee is to inquire into and report on any matter referred to the committee by resolution of the House. (2) A committee may inquire into and report on the expenditure, performance or effectiveness of any government department, statutory body or corporation, relevant to the portfolios allocated to the committee. (3) A committee meeting to consider a self-reference may be convened at the request of any three committee members in writing to the Committee Clerk. 756 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 12 May 2011 (4) The Committee Clerk must convene a meeting within seven days of the receipt of the request, providing that members are given at least 24 hours’ notice. (5) A majority of committee members is required to adopt the self-reference. (6) The terms of reference are to be reported to the House on the next sitting day. Membership 3. Each committee is to consist of seven members, comprising: (a) three Government members, (b) two Opposition members, and (c) two crossbench members. Substitute members 4. (1) Members may be appointed to a committee as substitute members for any matter before the committee, by notice in writing to the Committee Clerk. (2) Nominations for substitute Government or Opposition members are to be made by the Leader of the Government, Leader of the Opposition, Government or Opposition Whip or Deputy Whip, as applicable. (3) Nominations for substitute crossbench members are to be made by the substantive member or another crossbench member. Participating members 5. Unless a committee decides otherwise, a member of the House who is not a member of the relevant committee may take part in a private meeting of the committee but may not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of any quorum or division. Electronic participation in deliberative meetings 6. (1) A committee member who is unable to attend a deliberative meeting in person may participate by electronic communication and may move any motion and be counted for the purpose of any quorum or division, provided that: (a) the Chair is present in the meeting room, and (b) all members are able to speak to and hear each other at all times. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph 6 (1), a member may not participate by electronic communication in a meeting to consider a draft report. BUDGET ESTIMATES 2011-2012 Motion by the Hon. Duncan Gay agreed to: 1. That upon tabling, the Budget Estimates and related papers for the financial year 2011-2012 presenting the amounts to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund be referred to the General Purpose Standing Committees for inquiry and report. 2. That the initial hearings be scheduled as follows: Day One: Monday 24 October 2011 GPSC 1 GPSC 2 Day Two: Tuesday 25 October 2011 GPSC 1 GPSC 3 Day Three: Wednesday 26 October 2011 GPSC 2 GPSC 4 Day Four: Thursday 27 October 2011 GPSC 4 GPSC 5 Day Five: Friday 28 October 2011 GPSC 3 GPSC 5 12 May 2011 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 757 3. That an initial round of supplementary hearings be scheduled as follows: Day One: Monday 28 November 2011 GPSC 1 GPSC 2 Day Two: Tuesday 29 November 2011 GPSC 1 GPSC 3 Day Three: Wednesday 30 November 2011 GPSC 4 GPSC 2 Day Four: Thursday 1 December 2011 GPSC 4 GPSC 5 Day Five: Friday 2 December 2011 GPSC 5 GPSC 3 4. That each scheduled day for the initial round of hearings will begin at 9.15 a.m. and conclude by 6.00 p.m. 5. The committees must hear evidence in public. 6. The committees may ask for explanations from Ministers in the House, or officers of departments, statutory bodies or corporations, relating to the items of proposed expenditure. 7. There is no provision under this resolution for a Minister to make an opening statement before the committee commences questions. 8. A daily Hansard record is to be published as soon as practicable after each day's proceedings. 9. The committees are to present a final report to the House by the last sitting day of the first sitting week in February 2012. 10. Members may lodge questions on notice with the Clerk to the committee during a Budget Estimates hearing and up to two days following. 11. All answers to questions taken on notice during the hearing, and questions on notice lodged up to two days following the hearing, must be provided within 21 days, or as otherwise determined by the committee. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders: Order of Business Motion by the Hon. Mick Veitch agreed to: That standing and sessional orders be suspended to allow a motion to be moved forthwith that Private Members' Business item No. 55, outside the Order of Precedence, relating to the death of Lionel Rose, be called on forthwith. Order of Business Motion by the Hon. Mick Veitch agreed to: That Private Members' Business item No. 55 outside the Order of Precedence be called on forthwith. TRIBUTE TO LIONEL ROSE, MBE The Hon. MICK VEITCH [9.42 a.m.]: I move: 1. That this House notes the passing on 8 May 2011 of Lionel Edward Rose. 2. That this House notes that Lionel Rose was: (a) the first Aboriginal Australian to win a world boxing title when he defeated Japan's "Fighting" Harada in 1968 in the bantamweight division; (b) in 1968, the first Aboriginal to be announced Australian of the year; (c) appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1968; 758 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 12 May 2011 (d) the inaugural inductee into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003; and (e) one of the first sportspersons anywhere in the world to make a personal stand against apartheid.