Extract from Votes and Proceedings No.9, Thursday 28 May 2015
2 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
Mr Anthony Roberts moved, by leave, That the following motions for the establishment of
Parliamentary committees and the appointment of members be agreed to:
(13) Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety
That:
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the standing orders:
(1) A Portfolio Standing Committee to be known as the Legislative Assembly Committee
on Law and Safety be appointed. The following portfolio responsibilities stand
referred to the Committee – Attorney General; Corrections; Emergency Services;
Justice; Police; Racing; and Veterans Affairs.
(2) The name and portfolio groupings of the Committee may change to correspond with
any changes made by the Government to the relevant portfolios.
Terms of reference
(3) The Committee may examine, inquire into and report on the following matters
concerning its portfolio areas:
(a) any matter referred to it by the House;
(b) any relevant policy, bill or subordinate legislation;
(c) any relevant financial matter; and
(d) any relevant portfolio issue.
(4) Legislative scrutiny – The Committee, in this context, have a legislative scrutiny
function that shall include evaluating the policy impact and consequences for each
portfolio of any relevant bill introduced in Parliament, any existing legislation and
any item of subordinate legislation.
(5) Financial matters – The examination of financial matters by the Committee include
the review of government financial management, by considering the financial
documents, expenditure, performance and effectiveness of any relevant
government department, agency, statutory body or state-owned corporation.
(6) Examination of annual and other reports – The Committee may examine any matter
in the annual report or other reports of any public body, including:
(a) the adequacy and accuracy of all financial and operational information;
(b) any matter arising from the annual report or other report concerning the efficient
and effective achievement of the agency’s objectives.
(7) Public works – The Committee may consider any matter concerning public works
relating to the portfolio area.
Initiation of inquiries
(8) The Committee may be referred an inquiry by resolution of the House or in writing
from a Minister.
(9) Except in the case of bills, the Committee also may initiate an inquiry on its own
motion and report on any proposal, matter or thing relevant to its functions,
including an annual report, other report or petition. The Committee can only
consider a Bill on referral from the House, in accordance with standing order 323
(Legislation Committees).
(10) The Committee take care not to duplicate an inquiry into any matters under
examination by another portfolio or standing committee of the House, and any
question arising in this connection may be referred to the House for determination.
Membership
(11) The Committee consist of five members, comprising:
(a) three Government members (one of whom shall be the Chair);
(b) one Opposition member; and
(c) one member of the Greens.
(12) That the following members of the Legislative Assembly be appointed to serve on
the Committee: Mr Edmond Atalla, Ms Jenny Leong, Mr Geoffrey Provest, Mr Jai
Rowell, and Mr Damien Tudehope.
Sub-committees
(13) The Committee have the power to appoint sub-committees, consisting of 3
members, and to refer to a sub-committee any of the matters which the Committee
is empowered to consider. In this regard, the sub-committee may be responsible for
conducting hearings, briefings, visits of inspections and other activities but cannot
make decisions concerning the conduct of an inquiry, such as the selection of
witnesses, and the Committee’s reports.
(14) A sub-committee have at least one member supporting the Government and one
member not supporting the Government, and a quorum for a sub-committee shall
be at least two members.
Visits of inspection
(15) The Committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of New
South Wales and other States and Territories of Australia.
