Virtual Meeting Powers for the Executive Council
Constitution Amendment (Executive Council) Bill 2023
Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly
Assent
Introduced by: The Hon John Graham MLC (ALP); Jo Haylen MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Mark Taylor LIB
“I speak on behalf of the Coalition in debate on the Constitution Amendment (Executive Council) Bill 2023. The bill seeks to amend the New South Wales Constitution and would extend the extraordinary provisions introduced during those extraordinary times that were the COVID pandemic.”
Greg Warren ALP
“I am delighted to make a brief contribution to debate on the Constitution Amendment (Executive Council) Bill 2023. I acknowledge the Minister’s efforts and thank her for her contribution, as well as the efforts of my friend and Minister in the other place the Hon. John Graham and his team in bringing this together.”
Janelle Saffin ALP
“I speak in support of the Constitution Amendment (Executive Council) Bill 2023. As members know, the purpose of the bill is to allow the meetings of the Executive Council to be held by means other than face to face, such as by teleconference or videoconference.”
Jo Haylen ALP
“I will briefly address some of the matters raised. I thank the member for Winston Hills for his comments in relation to the bill. The Government acknowledges the importance of the Executive Council and it has not taken the decision to amend the Constitution Act lightly. We obviously recognise the importance of ensuring the continuity of Executive Government.”
News articles and press releases
Constitution Amendment (Executive Council) Bill 2023
The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM, Minister for Roads — 2023-11-30
While the COVID-19 emergency has since evolved, circumstances which make it impractical for meetings of the Executive Council to be held in person may arise again in the future. The purpose of the bill is to make permanent the measures allowing Executive Council meetings to be conducted in a manner other than in person. The bill achieves this by way of an amendment to section 35D of the Act which will allow Executive Council meetings to be held remotely should it be required to meet the needs of the Government. The amendments provide that meetings of the Executive Council may now be convened in person or by means of a teleconference or videoconference. Further, the amendments confirm that the Governor or other presiding member may similarly preside over a meeting of the Executive Council in person or by means of a teleconference or videoconference.