Extracts from Votes and Proceedings No. 142, Friday 21 November 2025

21 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY

Mr Ron Hoenig moved, That this House:

That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standing Orders:

(1) A standing committee, to be known as the Legislative Assembly Committee on Public Responsibility be appointed

Terms of Reference

(2) The committee may inquire into and report on the public responsibility, accountability, financial management, regulatory impact and service delivery of New South Wales government departments, statutory bodies or corporations

(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 shall consist of five members, comprising:

(a) three government members, being Mr Clayton Barr, Ms Marjorie O’Neill and Mr Greg Warren.

(b) one opposition member.

(c) one crossbench member, being Mr Alex Greenwich.

(12) That the opposition member be nominated in writing by the Opposition Whip to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly by 5 December 2025.

(13) Mr Clayton Barr shall be the Chair of the Committee.

Sub-committees

(14) 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.

(15) 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

(16) The Committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of New South Wales and other States and Territories of Australia.