Sourced positions
A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.
Abortion & reproductive policy verified
As a member of the NSW Legislative Council, voted in favour of the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 (which became the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, decriminalising abortion in NSW) at the third reading (final passage, 25 Sept 2019), on a conscience vote.
Voluntary assisted dying verified
Penny Sharpe voted in favour of (Ayes) the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 at its third reading in the Legislative Council on 19 May 2022 (Council third reading, which passed 23 votes to 15). The Act was a conscience vote and became the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022 (NSW).
Gender & LGBTQ+ policy verified
Labor MLC and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. She was the first openly lesbian member of the NSW Parliament (appointed 2005) and is a long-standing LGBTIQ rights advocate. She worked internally within Labor to shift the party toward supporting marriage equality and campaigned during the 2017 Marriage Law Postal Survey. In 2018 she championed cross-party amendments to the Public Health Act to establish abortion-clinic 'safe access zones.' During the Equality Bill debate she defended the legislation, stating it 'does not impact on women's rights.'
Religious freedom verified
As Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Sharpe was named among ministers supporting the Conversion Practices Ban Bill 2024, which the government said was crafted to balance protecting LGBTQ+ people with 'legitimate religious and cultural practices' and not to ban religious teaching or expression of belief through a sermon.
Freedom of speech verified
Voted for the second reading of the Roads and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022, which created new offences for obstructing major roads and major facilities (Legislative Council, 31 March 2022; Ayes 31, Noes 4). Voted for the third reading of that bill (Legislative Council, 1 April 2022; Ayes 23, Noes 4).
Native forest logging verified
As NSW Environment Minister (ALP), Sharpe has led the Great Koala National Park process rather than a statewide logging ban. Regarding the park footprint she said 'We're very close to finalising and announcing that,' acknowledging the impact on logging ('there is going to be an impact') and noting 'Koalas like the same large trees that our mills have relied on.' Reporting indicates she accepts 'the status quo cannot continue' on native forest logging. The government imposed a logging moratorium within the proposed park in Sep 2025.
Energy verified
NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage (and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council). Sharpe delivers the state's Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which manages the exit of ageing coal power stations while building Renewable Energy Zones, storage, firming and transmission; she frames the REZs and roadmap as ensuring NSW has the energy to run its economy by 'replacing coal-fired power with renewable energy.'
Environment & water verified
As NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Heritage (Labor), Penny Sharpe championed the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, which legislated targets of 50% emissions reduction by 2030, 70% by 2035 and net zero by 2050. On its passage she said 'NSW Labor has followed through on its commitment to the people of NSW to take serious action on climate change and keep this government and future governments accountable for delivering on emissions reduction targets.' She also drove the September 2025 expansion of the NSW Return and Earn container deposit scheme to include wine and spirit bottles, saying the government was 'working with industry to ensure a smooth transition and to ensure return systems will be ready to handle the new containers by mid-2027.'
Record last updated 2026-08-13.