NSW premier refuses immediate answers for charged MP

NSW Premier Chris Minns is facing calls to respect the wishes of regional voters who returned an independent MP facing criminal charges.

The premier on Wednesday declined to immediately answer a question from Gareth Ward and promised to continue to do so while a parliamentary standards committee holds an inquiry.

The Kiama MP, 42, is due to face trial in April 2024 on five charges including sexual intercourse without consent, which he denies.

He was suspended from the last parliament when charges were laid but returned to the lower house this week after retaining his seat at the March state election.

Labor passed a motion on Wednesday asking the privileges committee to consider whether MPs re-elected while awaiting trial should face any action. 

Its report is due on June 8.

"It's appropriate in the context of that inquiry, and effectively their judgment on his future tenure, that any questions that he asks me or my ministers are taken under advice," Mr Minns told reporters.

"We will respond formally to his inquiries."

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said taking a question on notice because it came from Mr Ward was "offensive" to voters who elected him in full knowledge he had been charged.

"It doesn't matter what I think or what other parliamentarians think - the voters of Kiama have made that democratic choice," he told reporters.

"Subject to anything that privileges committee may come to, that choice should be respected."

Mr Ward said he asked a measured and reasonable question about an important issue and was "somewhat shocked the premier boasted about snubbing" him.

"Mr Minns' refusal to answer my questions on disability policy is something you'd expect from an opposition leader - not a premier," he told AAP.

"Refusing to answer my questions (is) disrespectful to every person in the Kiama electorate and people with disabilities that need a voice."

The premier was also under fire for Labor's support of One Nation MP Rod Roberts for the role of upper house deputy president, in the wake of a homophobia saga involving NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham.

Mr Minns endorsed the decision of his Labor colleagues while pointing out Mr Roberts was nominated by a crossbencher and unanimously supported by all political parties.

That overshadowed the introduction of the Minns government's first bill to the new parliament, to put water utilities Sydney Water and Hunter Water in the NSW constitution.

The measure would stop any future government from privatising the publicly owned assets without the consent of parliament.

Key rental reforms were also introduced to parliament as Sydney renters pay record prices for their homes and living costs continue to soar.

The proposed law would close the loophole of landlords and agents keeping renters in the dark with secret rent bidding.

Renters will also be able to transfer their bonds, averaging $2500 per property, from one tenancy to another, to ease the financial burden when they move.

"Moving property or buying property is one of the most stressful and most expensive things someone can experience," Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said.

Coalition MPs will be permitted to campaign freely for or against the Indigenous voice to federal parliament after shadow cabinet met on Wednesday.

But Mr Speakman remains unsure on whether he will support the 'yes' or 'no' campaign, saying he held some concerns and would await the outcome of a federal inquiry.