NSW Departments, Agencies and Ministers are now required to respond to reports tabled in the Legislative Council within three months instead of six, according to a new Memorandum from the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
In M2022-04 Timeframes for Government responses to Parliamentary Committee reports, Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new Standing Order 223 of the Legislative Council came into effect earlier this month and altered the previous six-month timeframe within which Government responses to Parliamentary Committee reports were required.
Mr Perrottet said Departments, Executive Agencies related to Departments, separate Agencies, Statutory Authorities and Bodies, and Advisory Entities (including Boards and Committees) were required to comply with the Memorandum.
He said that on the tabling of a report that recommended Government action, the State must respond with what action, if any, it proposed to take within three months of a report being tabled in the Legislative Council, and within six months of a report being tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
“This means that the three-month timeframe for a Government response only applies to a referral of a Legislative Council Committee report from the Clerk of the Legislative Council,” Mr Perrottet said.
“If the Minister responsible for a Government response that is subject to the new three-month timeframe believes that a considered Government response cannot reasonably be prepared, considered by Cabinet and provided to the House within that timeframe, the Minister should write to the Clerk, copying the Leader of the Government in the House, advising of the reasons why further time is required and the date by which a Government response will be provided,” he said.
The Premier said that under Standing Order 233, the President of the NSW Legislative Council was to report to the House any Government response that missed the three-month deadline.
“If a response does not address what action, if any, the Government proposes to take in relation to each recommendation, the President is to inform the House on the next sitting day,” he said.
“The relevant Minister must immediately explain to the House the reason for non-compliance.”
Mr Perrottet said that if, after providing an explanation, the Minister had not provided a full Government response within one month, they would again be called on to explain.
He said this procedure would continue until a full Government response to each recommendation was provided.
M2022-04 can be accessed at this PS News link.
