Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (12:46): I am delighted to contribute to debate on the Police Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025. This miscellaneous bill makes amendments to numerous Acts, which I will go through shortly. It is an example of the Government and the Minister for Police and Counter- terrorism making sure that legislation is fit for purpose so that our police have the support they need to keep our communities safe. I acknowledge that the Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Counter‑terrorism, who is in the Chamber, works hard with the Minister to not only take a consultative approach to legislation in this Parliament but also, most importantly, with our police to make sure that legislation is fit for purpose.
Specifically, the bill makes a range of amendments to legislation governing the scrap metal, security and tattoo industries, as well as witness protection, which are regimes regulated by the NSW Police Force. The amendments will improve the robustness of the legislation by clarifying provisions to remove ambiguity, repealing redundant provisions, and addressing practical issues encountered with applying the legislation. As I alluded to earlier, the bill has been developed through consultation with industry groups and the Government to ensure that the legislation is fit for purpose and tailored to evolving needs and practices within our communities, local area commands and broader society. The sensible changes being made by the bill will support the NSW Police Force in its role of administering, regulating and overseeing compliance of the scrap metal, security and tattoo industries, as well as strengthen protections for participants in the witness protection program.
The bill makes minor changes to the Scrap Metal Industry Act 2016, including strengthening the probity of scrap metal operations by specifying that a business registration cannot be transferred to another person and to protect sensitive intelligence information. The bill also amends the Security Industry Act 1997, including to enhance the probity of the licensing regime, as well as the Tattoo Industry Act 2012 to exempt temporary residents who held a licence under the Act immediately before 1 September 2023 from the permanent residency eligibility requirement for holding a licence, which was clarified as part of the 2022 amendments to the Act.
By making important updates to the legislation, the bill ensures that the licensing regimes for each of these industries can continue to deter and disrupt any criminal activity, and also support compliant licensees to safely and effectively operate their businesses and provide their services to the New South Wales community. The bill amends the Witness Protection Amendment Act 2024 to enable the regulations to prescribe a class of person or body, whether public or private, as an "agency" for the purposes of the Witness Protection Act 1995. The Government is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of witnesses who agree to give evidence on behalf of the Crown. This amendment ensures that key reforms to remove and create identity records for witness protection program participants and require secure storage of confidential information can extend to all relevant agencies.
In conclusion, I take this opportunity to thank the NSW Police Force, the Minister's office and my Parliamentary Secretary colleague. Most importantly, I thank our frontline police officers who patrol our streets in every community to keep us safe. It is not an easy job. It is an extraordinarily dangerous job. I know it is said a lot, but I will take every opportunity that I have in this place or outside it to thank our police and acknowledge the important work they do to keep us all safe.
