NSW Labor has acted to delay debate on its own Parliamentary Budget Officer [PBO] Amendment Bill 2022 in the Legislative Council after lobbying to suspend standing orders to allow the Bill to be debated in full as a matter of urgency on Thursday morning.
On Tuesday, 7 June 2022 Shadow Treasurer Daniel Mookhey announced that the Opposition would be introducing an amendment to the Parliamentary Budget Officer Act to bring forward the start of the PBO from 1 September to 1 July.
The Government supported the urgency request and facilitated its consideration in the Legislative Assembly.
The Bill passed the Legislative Assembly with amendments, including one introduced by Government to ensure transparency in the use of the PBO, requiring any PBO costings for both the Government and the Opposition to be published online within seven days. The current requirement is for publication just five days before the election.
Members of the Crossbench in the Legislative Assembly supported the Government amendment.
Labor voted against this important transparency measure.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the Opposition declined the opportunity to advance the passage of its Bill because it was scared of transparency.
“This Government supports transparency and honesty,” Mr Kean said.
“Labor is all politics and no substance. They have no plans, no policies and no ideas.
“The Liberals and Nationals have always been upfront with the people of NSW about what we’ll do to secure a brighter future for NSW families.”
When the Bill reached the Legislative Council on Thursday afternoon, the Government, recognising the Opposition’s urgency in passing the Bill,
was prepared to expedite its passage to enable the PBO role to be set up from 1 July.
Labor backflipped on its pursuit of urgency, moving that the Bill be delayed.
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Damien Tudehope said this is a display of Labor’s vacant policy agenda and fear of public accountability.
“The Government stands ready to bring forward the start of the PBO and urges Labor to support the transparency measures in the Bill,” Mr Tudehope said.
The Government looks forward to getting this Bill passed as soon as possible.
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