NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (1) HOUSE IN REVIEW Volume 55/20 Sitting period 6 to 8 March 2012 The House in Review provides regular updates of the activities of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Clicking on a hyperlink will take you to the relevant webpage. For further information refer to the NSW Parliament website www.parliament.nsw.gov.au or contact the Procedure Office on (02) 9230 2431. To be placed on the email distribution list of the House in Review, please contact us on [email protected]. Overview The President subsequently reported a message from the Legislative Assembly to advise that it had resolved to This week was notable for the expeditious arrangement meet with the Legislative Council for the purpose of of a joint sitting of the two Houses relating to the sitting and voting together to choose a replacement for vacancy in the representation of the State in the Senate Senator Arbib, and requesting that the Council fix the (see report below). time and place of the joint sitting. Overall the sitting week was characterised not by the The House sent a message to the Assembly advising that volume of bills dealt with (as was the case the previous it had resolved to meet with Assembly in the Legislative sitting week) but by the level of scrutiny and review given Council Chamber later that day. to the matters considered by the House. The Mental Health Commission Bill being a case in point – the aim In accordance with section 15 of the Commonwealth of the bill was unanimously supported, nevertheless Constitution, a joint sitting of the two Houses was held debate on the second reading and consideration in on Tuesday 6 March 2012 at which the Hon Robert John committee of the whole carried over two days, ultimately Carr, former Premier of NSW, was selected to fill the resulting in the bill being returned to the Assembly with vacated seat. It is understood that Mr Carr will take his two amendments. place in the Senate and also be sworn in as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Australian Parliament next week. The fact that only two Government bills were completed this week means that 13 Government bills currently sit Government business on the notice paper for consideration by the House in Note: Government business includes Government bills upcoming weeks. introduced or carried by ministers in the Council. Ministerial statement – Death of Senior Mental Health Commission Bill 2011 Constable David Rixon The bill originated in the Legislative Assembly. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services made a statement in the House regarding the tragic death last Summary: The bill establishes the Mental Health week of Senior Constable David Rixon in the line of Commission of New South Wales. The Commission will duty. The Minister, on behalf of the Government and the be an independent statutory body with the objectives of people of New South Wales, expressed his deepest championing mental health issues, ensuring better sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and accountability of mental health services and the use of colleagues of Senior Constable Rixon. Honour was paid mental health funds, and nurturing innovation in the to Senior Constable Rixon’s courage, sacrifice and approach to mental health. bravery in performing his duties; and to police generally Proceedings: Debate on the second reading of the bill for risking their lives on a daily basis in their dedication commenced on 6 March 2012. In her second reading to the service and protection of the community. The speech, the Parliamentary Secretary (Mrs Pavey) indicated Leader of the Opposition made a statement in similar that the introduction of the Commission, based on best terms. practice models from around the world, will improve the Vacancy in the representation of the State mental health system. The Commission will deliver strategic direction for mental health to ensure services are in the Senate appropriately designed and targeted, and will review, At the start of business on the first sitting day this week, monitor and report to the Government, the Parliament the President reported a message from Her Excellency and the public on how funds are being used. the Governor notifying that a vacancy had occurred in The Parliamentary Secretary noted that the Commission the representation of the State in the Senate through the model as proposed in the bill was developed by the resignation of Senator the Hon Mark Arbib on 5 March Mental Health Taskforce which undertook an extensive 2012. 1 consultation process with stakeholder groups and implementing the strategic plan. The amendments were individuals. Mrs Pavey took the opportunity to recognise all negatived, either on division or on the voices. the important contribution the House itself has played in The Greens successfully moved two amendments which establishing mental illness as an issue in the community provided the Commission with the capacity to prepare a by acknowledging the 2002 report ‘Inquiry into mental report on firstly, progress in relation to preparation of health services in New South Wales’ of the Legislative the draft strategic plan, and secondly, the funding of Council Select Committee on Mental Health, chaired by mental health services. the former member the Hon Dr Brian Pezutti. A third Greens amendment requiring the Commission, in Members of the Government, the Greens and the exercising its functions, to take into account the Christian Democratic Party supported the bill, while the particular views and needs of people of different age Opposition did not oppose it. It was acknowledged that groups, including children and young people, was the bill was a step forward in the important issue of negatived (Division 18:20). mental health and that there is broad professional and community support for the Commission to champion The bill was reported to the House with the two Greens mental health and drive reform across the system. There amendments, read a third time and returned to the was unanimous approval for the wide consultation Assembly. undertaken in the drafting of the bill. The second reading was agreed to. Crimes Amendment (Consorting and Organised Crime) Bill 2012 In the committee stage the Opposition and the Greens both moved a number of amendments which they The bill originated in the Legislative Assembly. respectively argued would provide simple enhancements Summary: The bill proposes a number of amendments to to the functions and responsibilities of the Commission the Crimes Act 1900. It creates a number of new offences without detracting from its operations. including firing at a dwelling-house in the course of an A key Opposition amendment sought to ensure that organised criminal activity, plus offences relating to directions from the Minister to the Commission are directing or receiving material benefit from criminal published in the Government Gazette. The Opposition groups. The bill amends the offence relating to argued that this would serve as a safeguard to deter a participating in criminal groups, so that rather than Minister from ever overruling a decision of the requiring a person to have known that the group was a Commission to report on an important systemic issue. criminal group, a person will commit an offence where Both the Government and the Greens did not believe the he or she ought reasonably to have known these things. amendment was necessary, arguing that the bill provided It also modernises, so as to increase the likelihood of the Commission with an exemption from the direction or police being able to apply, the offence of consorting. control of the Minister with respect to such reports. In Proceedings: Debate on the second reading of the bill an attempt to gain support from the Greens, the commenced on 7 March 2012. In his second reading Opposition moved an amendment to its own speech the Parliamentary Secretary (Mr Clarke) said the amendment to omit the need to wait for a direction to be bill will ensure the provisions of the Crimes Act remain published before it comes into effect, this was agreed to. effective in combating criminal groups in New South However, the amendment, as amended, was negatived Wales. Mr Clarke stated the Government is determined (Division 13:25). to ensure that the NSW Police Force had adequate tools The Opposition also sought to ensure that special reports to deal with organised crime and that the bill represents by the Commission on significant systemic mental health part of a suite of reforms aimed at achieving that. He issues should be provided to the Presiding Officers as argued the bill sent an aggressive signal to criminal soon as practicable, unless it contains material which is groups that their continued operation will not be considered Cabinet in confidence. The Greens moved an tolerated and their members will be dealt with severely amendment to this amendment to allow the Commission when they are called to account for their actions. to deliver a report to the Minister without that report A number of members of the Government spoke in entering the public domain if the report is on a sensitive support of the bill arguing that the new and amended issue. The amendment to the amendment was agreed to. offences, particularly consorting, were necessary to However, the amendment, as amended, was negatived. combat organised criminals. The Shooters and Fishers The Opposition moved four other amendments, firstly to Party supported the context of the bill on the basis it was strengthen the Commission’s functions regarding trying to do something towards solving the problem of reducing stigma and discrimination associated with drive-by shootings. The Christian Democratic Party also mental illness; secondly to increase transparency and supported the bill.