Anthony Roberts
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism
The Minns Labor Government has today blocked the NSW Liberals and Nationals’ attempt to immediately bring on the debate on Labor’s own laws to crack down on gangland and organised crime.
The Labor Government tabled the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Organised Crimes Reforms) Bill 2026 in August, to give NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission stronger powers to investigate organised crime, access critical evidence and disrupt criminal networks.
Yet after two days of parliamentary sittings, Labor has still not brought its laws on for debate, which prompted the NSW Liberals and Nationals to move a motion to commence debate today.
Instead of bringing the Bill on for debate immediately, Labor sought to schedule the debate for tomorrow, something that they were forced to do to avoid voting against bringing their own laws on for debate.
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Anthony Roberts said Labor’s move exposed the gap between its empty talk on community safety and its willingness to act.
“Labor spends a lot of time talking tough on crime, but when given the opportunity to progress its own laws today, it said no,” Mr Roberts said.
“Labor has already announced another tranche of crime laws despite failing to progress the last one through Parliament – once again, the announcement comes before real action.”
“The Deputy Premier challenged the Liberals and Nationals to support Labor’s legislation and today we called Labor’s bluff and instead of being ready to back the laws, Labor squibbed it and scheduled it for tomorrow instead – something we forced them into doing.”
Mr Roberts said NSW Police were confronting increasingly sophisticated organised criminal networks using encrypted technology, intermediaries and young people to facilitate crime.
“Police work hard every day to keep our communities safe. Parliament’s job is to make sure they have the laws, powers, technology and resources they need to do that job,” Mr Roberts said.
“Backing our police means giving them effective laws, properly resourcing them and acting with urgency when organised criminals are threatening our streets.”
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals are prepared to work constructively to give police the tools they need to target the people organising, financing and carrying out gangland violence.”
“Community safety is too important for political games. The Government should bring on these laws today, allow Parliament to debate them and give our police the support they need to get dangerous criminals off our streets.”
