How to watch the Legislative Council

Legislative Council (11 November 2026, 1.00 pm) 22 hr ago

Committee reports, rail bill passage and Question Time

Sandra Carr and 22 others

Members examine committee reports on river management, estimates scrutiny and the Perth Park inquiry, then complete committee and third reading stages of the Rail Freight System Acquisition and Reorganisation Bill with divided party positions, before an extensive Question Time probing ministers on child protection, infrastructure cost overruns, energy pricing, integrity concerns and other oversight issues.

In this chapter

1. Committee reports: Swan/Canning management, estimates scrutiny and Perth Park inquirySandra Carr
2. Railway System Acquisition Bill: committee scrutiny and third reading voteSimon Ehrenfeld
3. Question Time: accountability across child protection, infrastructure, energy and integrity issuesNick Goiran

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Legislative Council (11 November 2026, 1.00 pm)

Opening business and industrial hemp motion

Stephen Dawson and 10 others

The sitting opens with formal procedural business, tabling of accountability documents and scheduling motions, before moving to debate and unanimous adoption of Brian Walker’s industrial hemp motion, covering regulatory barriers, proposed Act review, national harmonisation and the sector’s economic, environmental and regional development potential.

In this chapter

1. Opening of sitting and preliminary businessStephen Dawson
2. Industrial hemp motion: policy framework and stakeholder positionsBrian Walker

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Legislative Council (10 November 2026, 7.00 pm)

Members’ statements: mine safety, emissions regulation and companion animals

Sophie McNeill GWA

Members deliver statements on the Beaconsfield mine legacy and current mine safety in WA, alleged regulatory failures over methane leaks at Chevron’s Gorgon LNG facility in the context of COP31, and companion animal overpopulation with proposals to prioritise government‑backed sterilisation policies. These contributions highlight worker safety, climate and environmental enforcement, and practical animal welfare policy interventions.

In this chapter

1. Members’ statements: Beaconsfield mine legacy and current mine safety
2. Greens’ statement: COP31, Chevron Gorgon methane leak and regulatory failure claimsSophie McNeill
3. Companion animal overpopulation and sterilisation policy proposals

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Legislative Council (10 November 2026, 7.00 pm)

Rail Freight Bill: committee stage, acquisition and governance

Steve Thomas and 4 others

Committee of the whole on the Rail Freight System (Acquisition and Reorganisation) Bill 2026 covers corporate governance of the new entity, ownership and transaction structure, acquisition and reorganisation powers, treatment of proceeds and transfers, and Auditor General and confidentiality provisions. Debate then focuses on Part 3 authority powers, parliamentary oversight, borrowing arrangements and safeguards for vertical integration and state corridor ownership before reporting progress on the bill.

In this chapter

1. Rail Freight Bill committee opens and corporate governance frameworkSteve Thomas
2. Ownership, transaction structure, ARTC role and infrastructure planningSteve Martin
3. Acquisition powers, proceeds, transfer mechanisms and confidentialitySteve Martin
4. Part 3 authority powers, oversight, borrowing and vertical integration safeguardsSteve Martin

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Legislative Council (10 November 2026, 12.41 pm)

Questions without notice: cross‑portfolio government scrutiny

Nick Goiran and 24 others

Question Time ranges across child protection, infrastructure probity, investment attraction, transport and regional airfares, energy and emissions, environmental compliance, animal welfare, social services, housing, road safety and electricity supply for data centres, eliciting factual updates and policy positions from responsible ministers.

In this chapter

1. Questions without notice: child protection, infrastructure, environment and sectoral issuesNick Goiran
2. Return to Rail Freight Bill committee: transparency, ARTC study, Tier 3 and road safety claimsPierre Yang
3. Rail Freight Bill committee: ownership model, control, foreign ownership and adjournmentRod Caddies

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Legislative Council (10 November 2026, 12.41 pm)

Rail Freight Bill committee (Clause 1): due diligence, ownership and Tier 3 network

Steve Martin and 2 others

During clause‑1 scrutiny of the Rail Freight Bill, members question the government on success criteria, due diligence, Commonwealth funding links, transparency of lease and transaction terms, timing and budget treatment of any acquisition, impacts on Tier 3 lines and road safety claims, and whether future equity structures and potential on‑sale or foreign ownership would preserve real state control of the freight network.

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Legislative Council (10 November 2026, 12.41 pm)

Rail Freight Bill second reading: opposition critiques and minister’s rationale

Stephen Dawson and 4 others

The government brings on the Rail Freight System (Acquisition and Reorganisation) Bill 2026, with opposition and Nationals expressing conditional support while warning against broad acquisition powers, followed by the Minister’s defence of re‑publicising the network, maintaining the access regime and enabling integrated planning before the second reading is agreed and the bill moves to committee.

In this chapter

1. Rail Freight Bill called and second reading: Opposition and Nationals critiquesStephen Dawson
2. Rail Freight Bill second reading: Minister’s response and policy rationaleSandra Carr

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Legislative Council (10 November 2026, 12.41 pm)

Opening, condolence motions and formal business

Stephen Dawson and 12 others

The Council opens its sitting, adopts condolence motions for former members Paddy Embry and Peter Katsambanis, then proceeds to formal business including petitions, ministerial statements, tabling of reports and regulations, and notices of new bills and motions that shape the forthcoming legislative agenda.

In this chapter

1. Opening of sitting and Embry condolence motionStephen Dawson
2. Condolence motion for Peter KatsambanisStephen Dawson
3. Formal business, petitions and government statementsBrad Pettitt

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