On 15 September 2026 the NSW Government introduced the Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill (No 2) 2026. One part of it is labelled "life means life". It is meant to put beyond doubt that a person given a life sentence in NSW since the 1990 truth in sentencing reforms can never be released and can never have that sentence reopened. This note sets out what a life sentence already means in this State, the redetermination scheme the change is aimed at, and what wou