Committee members

Mr Thomas Emerson MLA
Chair
Deputy Chair
Miss Laura Nuttall MLA

Ms Caitlin Tough MLA

  

Contact the committee

You can contact the committee by email lacommitteeSP@parliament.act.gov.au or by calling the Committee Secretary, Katie Langham, on (02) 6207 5498.

The Assembly resolved to establish a standing committee on social policy on 3 December 2024. Please click here to view the current resolution.

The committee is responsible for examining the following areas:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
  • Community Services
  • Disability
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Education
  • Families
  • Health and health services
  • Homelessness and housing services
  • Intergenerational fairness
  • Justice Health
  • LGBTIQ+
  • Mental health
  • Multicultural Affairs
  • Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
  • Seniors
  • Social Housing
  • Veterans
  • Women (including the Office for Women)
  • Youth Affairs.

Return to the committees page

Committees may make statements to the Assembly under Standing Order 246A in relation to matters under their resolution of establishment or inquiries being undertaken by the Committee.

Statements to the Assembly are generally provided by the Committee Chair on behalf of the Committee.

Below is a list of statements and discussion papers presented to the Assembly by the Standing Committee on Social Policy during the Eleventh Assembly.

SubjectDate presentedTabled document (if applicable)
246A statement - Assembly referral - Political extremist ideologies11 June 2026N/A
246A statement - Petition consideration - Aboriginal health services in the north of Canberra27 May 2026N/A
246A statement – New Inquiry into endometriosis and other pelvic pain conditions3 February 2026N/A
Petition consideration – Closure of SDN Bluebell daycare3 December 2025N/A
Consideration of Statutory Appointments - SP - 1 January 2025 to 30 June 202516 September 2025Schedule of Statutory Appointments - SP - 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025
246A Statement - New inquiry into men's suicide rates6 May 2025N/A
Notice of motion - 213A - Inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2023-248 April 2025Responses to questions on notice and related correspondence
246A Statement - SP - Inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2023-248 April 2025N/A
Consideration of Statutory Appointments 1 July 2024 – 31 December 20245 February 2025Schedule of Statutory Appointments - SP - 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024 (includes appointments considered by 10th Assembly Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion, Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing, and Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety)

All bills presented to the Assembly are referred to the relevant standing committee for consideration under Standing Order 174.

The committee must advise the Speaker of its decision to inquire into a bill within three weeks of its presentation to the Assembly, or one week after the relevant scrutiny report is tabled (whichever is later).

Where the committee inquiries into a bill, it must complete its report within three months of the bill’s presentation in the Assembly, except bills presented in the last sitting period of each year where the committee must report within four months of the bill’s presentation.

Below is a list of all bills considered by the Standing Committee on Social Policy during the Eleventh Assembly.

Referred BillDate presented and referredOutcome
Nurse Practitioners Legislation Amendment Bill 20254 December 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 27 January 2026.
Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Amendment Bill 20252 December 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 5 December 2025.
Assisted Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2025 (No 2)28 October 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 4 November 2025.
Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Bill 202522 October 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 4 November 2025.
Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (No 2)4 September 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 9 September 2025.
Domestic Violence Agencies (Information Sharing) Amendment Bill 20258 April 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 29 April 2025.
Education Amendment Bill 20258 April 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 29 April 2025.
Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Vaping Goods) Amendment Bill 20256 March 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 11 March 2025.
Better Regulation (Repeal of Legislation) Bill 20256 March 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 11 March 2025.
Health Legislation Amendment Bill 20255 February 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 25 February 2025.
Assisted Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 20254 February 2025Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 25 February 2025.
Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Amendment Bill 20243 December 2024Committee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 17 December 2024.

Pursuant to Standing Order 99A—Petitions or e-petitions with at least 500 signatories from residents/citizens of the Australian Capital Territory are referred to the relevant Assembly standing committee for consideration under Standing Order 99A. In the event that the subject matter of the Petition makes it unclear which committee it should be referred to, the Speaker will determine the appropriate committee.

Below is a list of all petitions referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy in the Eleventh Assembly:

Referred PetitionDate presented and referredResponded to AssemblyOutcome
E-PET-043-26 - Canberra Health Services uniform policy - 'fun scrubs'11 June 2026NoTBC
E-PET-045-26 - Save senior fitness programs at CIT Bruce10 June 2026NoTBC
E-PET-033-26 and PET-040-26 - Funding and multi-year supports to Women's Shed Canberra5 May 2026NoTBC
E-PET-078-25 and PET-041-26 - Make career guidance right for every ACT Year 7-10 public school student5 May 2026NoTBC
E-PET-052-25 and PET-028-26 - South Canberra Veterans Shed Facility (Standing Order 99)17 March 2026YesCommittee resolved not to undertake an inquiry  23 June 2026.
E-PET-071-25 and PET-019-26 - Community-based Parkinson's Disease nurse for residents in the ACT25 February 2026YesCommittee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 19 May 2026.
E-PET-065-25 – Access to health services for Aboriginal people in the North of Canberra5 February 2026YesCommittee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 19 May 2026.
E-PET-077-25 - Access to Year 11 -12 ATAR Language Courses in 20263 December 2025YesCommittee resolved to undertake an inquiry 3 March 2026.
E-PET-051-25 and PET-075-25 - Closure of SDN Bluebell daycare28 October 2025YesCommittee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 4 November 2025.
The Committee is considering a range of issues, including the outcome of ongoing activities within the Assembly and at the federal level, that may inform a future self-referred inquiry relating to early childhood education and care. 
E-PET-037-25 - Keep WWVP Cards free for volunteers2 September 2025YesCommittee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 5 December 2025.
E-PET-013-25 and PET-025-25 - Air Conditioning for Canberra High School14 May 2025YesCommittee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 9 September 2025.
E-PET-007-25 - Build a new gym for Lyneham High School6 May 2025YesCommittee resolved to undertake an inquiry 12 August 2025.
E-Petition 005-25 and Petition 17-25 - Closure of Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre in Rivett8 April 2025 (E Petition)
10 April 2025 (Petition)
YesCommittee resolved to undertake an inquiry 22 April 2025.
E-Petition 028-24 and Petition 039-24 - Charnwood-Dunlop School Play Space Upgrades3 September 2024 (referred to the Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion)YesCommittee resolved not to undertake an inquiry 17 December 2024.