NSW 90-Day Ban on Parliament Legislating About Topics Linked to Terrorism, Mass Casualty Events, or Other Traumatic Public Events [Parliamentary Cooling-Off Period]

Constitution Amendment (Parliamentary Cooling-Off Period) Bill 2026

Private Member's Bill

4 Feb 2026: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

crime mass casualty events parliamentary process public safety terrorism victim support

Introduced by: John Ruddick MLC (LIBT)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

for 90 days after a major traumatic public event (such as a terrorist attack, mass casualty event, heinous crime, or officially declared day of mourning), Parliament cannot introduce, debate or vote on bills related to that event, and regulations related to it cannot be made
any Act passed in breach of this prohibition would automatically be void
exceptions apply for Appropriation Bills, legislation providing victim support or compensation, and legislation establishing a formal inquiry into the event
this provision is entrenched in the Constitution — repealing or changing it requires a 90% supermajority in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council
this Bill requires voter approval at a referendum before it can take effect (see the companion Referendum Bill)

News articles and press releases

Second Reading Speech, Constitution Amendment (Parliamentary Cooling-Off Period) Bill 2026

The Hon. JOHN RUDDICK — 2026-02-04

Today I introduce the Constitution Amendment (Parliamentary Cooling-Off Period) Bill 2026 and the Constitution (Parliamentary Cooling-Off Period—Referendum) Bill 2026. This is not a radical proposal. The Westminster system has in-built checks and balances designed to cool the passions of the day. These bills present a modest, principled safeguard designed to protect the people of New South Wales from the very real dangers of impulsive, emotion-charged lawmaking that so frequently follows tragedies, shocks or waves of public panic. The core of the amendment bill is simple. It inserts a new provision into the Constitution of New South Wales requiring a mandatory 90‑day legislative cooling‑off period after a "significant event". During those 90 days, no bill may be introduced, debated or enacted and no regulations made if the legislation relates directly to the event.