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{{short description|One of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales}}
{{short description|Lower house of the Parliament of New South Wales}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
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|body = Parliament of New South Wales
|body = Parliament of New South Wales
|leader1_type = [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Speaker]]
|leader1_type = [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Speaker]]
|leader1 = [[Greg Piper]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/speakerandofficeholders/pages/the-speaker-of-the-legislative-assembly.aspx |website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au |publisher=[[Parliament of New South Wales]] |access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref>
|leader1 = TBC
|party1 = [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]]
|party1 = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
|election1 =
|election1 = 9 May 2023
|leader2_type = [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Deputy Speaker]]
|leader2_type = Deputy Speaker
|leader2 = [[Sonia Hornery]]<ref name="OOH">{{cite web |title=Other Office Holders |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/other-office-holders.aspx |website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au |publisher=[[Parliament of New South Wales]]}}</ref>
|leader2 = TBC
|party2 =
|party2 = [[NSW Labor|Labor]]
|election2 =
|election2 = 9 May 2023
|leader3_type = Leader of the House
|leader3_type = [[Leader of the House (New South Wales)|Leader of the House]]
|leader3 = TBC
|leader3 = [[Ron Hoenig]]
|party3 = [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]]
|party3 = [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]]
|election3 =
|election3 = 5 April 2023
⚫
|leader4_type = Manager of Opposition Business
|leader4 = TBC
⚫
|party4 = [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]]
|election4 =
| leader5_type = Government Whip
| leader5_type = Government Whip
| leader5 = TBC
| leader5 = [[Nathan Hagarty]]
| party5 = [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]]
| party5 = [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]]
| election5 =
| election5 = 17 October 2023
| leader6_type = Opposition Whip
| leader6_type = Deputy Government Whip
| leader6 = TBC
| leader6 = [[Janelle Saffin]]
| party6 = [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]]
| party6 = [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]]
| election6 =
| election6 = 3 May 2023
⚫
| leader7_type = Manager of Opposition Business
| leader7 = [[Alister Henskens]]
⚫
| party7 = [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]]
| election7 = 3 May 2023
| leader8_type = Opposition Whip
| leader8 = [[Adam Crouch]]
| party8 = [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]]
| election8 = 21 April 2023
|members = 93
|members = 93
|structure1 = New South Wales Legislative Assembly - Composition of Members (2023).svg
|structure1 = 2024 - New South Wales Legislative Assembly - Composition of Members.svg
|structure1_res = 200px
|structure1_res = 200px
|structure1_alt =
|structure1_alt =
| political_groups1= '''[[Government of New South Wales|Government]] (46)'''
| political_groups1= '''[[Government of New South Wales|Government]] (45)'''
* {{Color box|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]] (46)
* {{Color box|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]] (45)


'''[[Parliamentary opposition|Opposition]] (35)'''
'''[[Shadow ministry of Mark Speakman|Opposition]] (35)'''
*{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]] (24)
*{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)}}|border=darkgray}} [[New South Wales Liberal Party|Liberal]] (24)
* {{Color box|{{party color|National Party of Australia – NSW}}|border=darkgray}} [[National Party of Australia – NSW|Nationals]] (11)
* {{Color box|{{party color|National Party of Australia – NSW}}|border=darkgray}} [[New South Wales National Party|Nationals]] (11)
'''[[Crossbench]] (11)'''
'''[[Crossbench]] (13)'''
* {{Color box|{{party color|Greens New South Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Greens New South Wales|Greens]] (3)
* {{Color box|{{party color|Greens New South Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[The Greens NSW|Greens]] (3)


* {{Color box|#b3b3b3|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (8){{efn|Current [[Independent politician|independent]] MLAs: * [[Roy Butler (Australian politician)|Roy Butler]] ([[Electoral district of Barwon|Barwon]]), [[Helen Dalton]] ([[Electoral district of Murray|Murray]]), [[Philip Donato|Phil Donato]] ([[Electoral district of Orange|Orange]]), [[Alex Greenwich]] ([[Electoral district of Sydney|Sydney]]), [[Joe McGirr]] ([[Electoral district of Wagga Wagga|Wagga Wagga]]), and [[Greg Piper]] ([[Electoral district of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]])}}<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-12/shooters-party-mps-roy-butler-phil-donato-resign-in-protest/101760198 | title = Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs resign from party over behaviour of leader Robert Borsak | work = [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | author = Raper, Ashleigh | date = 12 Dec 2022 | access-date = 12 Dec 2022 }}</ref>
* {{Color box|#b3b3b3|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (10){{efn|Current [[Independent politician|independent]] MLAs: [[Roy Butler (Australian politician)|Roy Butler]] ([[Electoral district of Barwon|Barwon]]), [[Helen Dalton]] ([[Electoral district of Murray|Murray]]), [[Philip Donato|Phil Donato]] ([[Electoral district of Orange|Orange]]), [[Alex Greenwich]] ([[Electoral district of Sydney|Sydney]]), [[Judy Hannan]] ([[Electoral district of Wollondilly|Wollondilly]]), [[Joe McGirr]] ([[Electoral district of Wagga Wagga|Wagga Wagga]]), [[Greg Piper]] ([[Electoral district of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]]), [[Michael Regan (Australian politician)|Michael Regan]] ([[Electoral district of Wakehurst|Wakehurst]]), [[Jacqui Scruby]] ([[Electoral district of Pittwater|Pittwater]]) and [[Gareth Ward]] ([[Electoral district of Kiama|Kiama]])}}<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-12/shooters-party-mps-roy-butler-phil-donato-resign-in-protest/101760198 | title = Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs resign from party over behaviour of leader Robert Borsak | work = [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | last1 = Raper |first1= Ashleigh |last2=Reading |first2=Kristy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823031740/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-12/shooters-party-mps-roy-butler-phil-donato-resign-in-protest/101760198 |archive-date=23 August 2024 |url-status=live | date = 12 Dec 2022 | access-date = 12 Dec 2022 }}</ref>


| voting_system1 = [[Optional preferential voting]]
| voting_system1 = [[Optional preferential voting]]
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| publisher = Parliament of New South Wales
| publisher = Parliament of New South Wales
| date = 28 February 2008
| date = 28 February 2008
| access-date = 3 April 2011}}</ref>
| access-date = 3 April 2011
| archive-date = 24 April 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110424004156/https://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/MembersAbout
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
From the creation of the assembly up to about 1990, the post-nominals "MLA" (Member of the Legislative Assembly) were used.
From the creation of the assembly up to about 1990, the post-nominals "MLA" (Member of the Legislative Assembly) were used.


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==History==
==History==
[[File:SLNSW 20846 AUP Greater Newcastle bill being passed.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The Legislative Assembly chamber during debate on the ''[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/gna1937n20208.pdf Greater Newcastle Bill]'', 19 November 1937; Speaker [[Reginald Weaver]] presiding with the Member for Newcastle, [[Frank Hawkins (politician)|Frank Hawkins]] speaking.]]
[[File:SLNSW 20846 AUP Greater Newcastle bill being passed.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The Legislative Assembly chamber during debate on the ''[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/gna1937n20208.pdf Greater Newcastle Bill]'', 19 November 1937; Speaker [[Reginald Weaver]] presiding with the Member for Newcastle, [[Frank Hawkins (politician)|Frank Hawkins]] speaking.]]
The Legislative Assembly was created in 1856 with the introduction of a [[Bicameralism|bicameral parliament]] for the [[Crown Colony]] of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]].<ref name="NSWpl-1">{{cite web|date=25 February 2008|title=1856 to 1889 – Responsible Government and Colonial Development|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1856-to-1889-Responsible-Government-and-Colonial-.aspx|access-date=3 May 2021|work=System of Government – History of Democracy|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales}}</ref> In the beginning, only men were eligible to be members of the Assembly, and only around one half of men were able to pass the property or income qualifications required to vote. Two years later, the Electoral Reform Act, which was passed despite the opposition of the Legislative Council, saw the introduction of a far more democratic system, allowing any man who had been resident in the colony for six months the right to vote, and removing property requirements to stand as a candidate.<ref name="NSWpl-1"/> Following Australia's federation in 1901, the New South Wales parliament became a State legislature. Women were granted the right to vote in 1902, and gained the right to be members of the Assembly in 1918,<ref name="NSWpl-2">{{cite web
The Legislative Assembly was created in 1856 with the introduction of a [[Bicameralism|bicameral parliament]] for the [[Crown Colony]] of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]], a process led in the Legislative Council by [[William Wentworth]].<ref name="NSWpl-1">{{cite web|date=25 February 2008|title=1856 to 1889 – Responsible Government and Colonial Development|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1856-to-1889-Responsible-Government-and-Colonial-.aspx|access-date=3 May 2021|work=System of Government – History of Democracy|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales}}</ref><ref name="LC">{{cite web |title=Role and History of the Legislative Council |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422092518/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ |archive-date=22 April 2016 |access-date=28 May 2016 |publisher=NSW Legislative Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr William Charles WENTWORTH (1790 - 1872) |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=239 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Parliament of New South Wales}}</ref> In the beginning, only men were eligible to be members of the Assembly, and only around one half of men were able to pass the property or income qualifications required to vote. Two years later, the Electoral Reform Act, which was passed despite the opposition of the Legislative Council, saw the introduction of a far more democratic system, allowing any man who had been resident in the colony for six months the right to vote, and removing property requirements to stand as a candidate.<ref name="NSWpl-1"/> Following Australia's federation in 1901, the New South Wales parliament became a State legislature. Women were granted the right to vote in 1902, and gained the right to be members of the Assembly in 1918,<ref name="NSWpl-2">{{cite web
| url = http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1901-to-1918-The-Early-Federal-Period-and-the-Fir.aspx
| url = http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1901-to-1918-The-Early-Federal-Period-and-the-Fir.aspx
| title = 1901 to 1918 – The Early Federal Period and the First World War
| title = 1901 to 1918 – The Early Federal Period and the First World War
Line 114: Line 122:


==Chamber==
==Chamber==
The Legislative Assembly sits in the oldest legislative chamber in Australia. Originally built for the Legislative Council in 1843, it has been in continuous use since 1856. The colour of the Legislative Assembly chamber is green, which follows the British tradition for [[lower house]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliament of New South Wales brochure |date=7 March 2005 |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/publications.nsf/key/Parliamentcolourbrochure/$File/ColBrochureEnglish.pdf |work=Educational Publications |access-date=30 June 2011}}</ref>
The Legislative Assembly sits in the oldest legislative chamber in Australia. Originally built for the Legislative Council in 1843, it has been in continuous use since 1856. The colour of the Legislative Assembly chamber is green, which follows the British tradition for [[lower house]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliament of New South Wales brochure |date=7 March 2005 |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/publications.nsf/key/Parliamentcolourbrochure/$File/ColBrochureEnglish.pdf |work=Educational Publications |access-date=30 June 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040015/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/publications.nsf/key/Parliamentcolourbrochure/$File/ColBrochureEnglish.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Function==
==Function==
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| access-date = 3 May 2021 }}</ref>
| access-date = 3 May 2021 }}</ref>


As with the [[Parliament of Australia|federal parliament]] and other [[Australian states and territories]], voting in the Assembly is compulsory for all those over the age of 18. Elections are held every four years on the fourth Saturday in March, as the result of a 1995 referendum to amend the New South Wales Constitution.<ref name="NSWpl-4"/>{{efn|Between 1984 and 1995, the maximum term of the Assembly was four years, but could be dissolved earlier.<ref>[https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1981-102 Constitution (Legislative Assembly) Amendment Act 1981 (NSW)]</ref>}} An early election can only be held if the government fails a vote of no confidence and no alternative government can command a vote of confidence.<ref>http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca1902188/s24b.html {{Bare URL inline|date=June 2022}}</ref>
As with the [[Parliament of Australia|federal parliament]] and other [[Australian states and territories]], voting in the Assembly is compulsory for all those over the age of 18. Elections are held every four years on the fourth Saturday in March, as the result of a 1995 referendum to amend the New South Wales Constitution.<ref name="NSWpl-4"/>{{efn|Between 1984 and 1995, the maximum term of the Assembly was four years, but could be dissolved earlier.<ref>[https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1981-102 Constitution (Legislative Assembly) Amendment Act 1981 (NSW)]</ref>}} An early election can only be held if the government fails a vote of no confidence and no alternative government can command a vote of confidence.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca1902188/s24b.html | title=Constitution Act }}</ref>


==Current distribution of seats==
==Current distribution of seats==
{{for|current members|Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 2019–2023}}
{{for|current members|Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 2023–2027}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! rowspan=1 | Party
! rowspan=1 | Party
! colspan=1 | Seats held
! colspan=1 | Seats held
! rowspan=1 colspan=45 | '''Current Assembly'''
! rowspan=1 colspan=46 | '''Current Assembly'''
|-
|-
|-
|-
|| [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Australian Labor Party]] || 36
| rowspan=2 | [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]] || rowspan=2 | 45
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
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| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
⚫
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
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| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}} | &nbsp;
|-
|-
|| [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal Party of Australia]] || 33
|| [[New South Wales Liberal Party|Liberal]] || 24
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
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| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | &nbsp;
|-
|-
|| [[National Party of Australia – NSW|National Party of Australia]] || 12
|| [[New South Wales National Party|National]] || 11
| {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | &nbsp;
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| {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | &nbsp;
|-
|-
|| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] || 8
|| [[The Greens NSW|Greens]] || 3
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Greens}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Greens}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Greens}} | &nbsp;
⚫
|-
|| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] || 10
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
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| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}} | &nbsp;
⚫
|-
|| [[Greens New South Wales]] || 3
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Greens}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Greens}} | &nbsp;
⚫
| {{Australian party style|Greens}} | &nbsp;
⚫
|-
|| [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]] || 1
| {{Australian party style|One Nation}} | &nbsp;
|}
|}


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== See also ==
== See also ==
{{Portal|New South Wales}}
{{Portal|New South Wales}}
* [[2019 New South Wales state election]]
* [[2023 New South Wales state election]]
* [[List of New South Wales state by-elections]]
* [[List of New South Wales state by-elections]]
* [[Parliaments of the Australian states and territories]]
* [[Parliaments of the Australian states and territories]]

Latest revision as of 15:27, 7 November 2024

Legislative Assembly
58th Parliament
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
History
Founded22 May 1856; 168 years ago (22 May 1856)
Leadership
Greg Piper[1], Independent
since 9 May 2023
Deputy Speaker
Sonia Hornery[2], Labor
since 9 May 2023
Ron Hoenig, Labor
since 5 April 2023
Government Whip
Nathan Hagarty, Labor
since 17 October 2023
Deputy Government Whip
Janelle Saffin, Labor
since 3 May 2023
Manager of Opposition Business
Alister Henskens, Liberal
since 3 May 2023
Opposition Whip
Adam Crouch, Liberal
since 21 April 2023
Structure
Seats93
Political groups
Government (45)
  •   Labor (45)

Opposition (35)

Crossbench (13)

Length of term
4 years
Elections
Optional preferential voting
Last election
25 March 2023
Next election
2027
Meeting place
Legislative Assembly Chamber
Parliament House, Sydney,
New South Wales, Australia
Website
NSW Legislative Assembly

The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the lower of the two houses of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The upper house is the New South Wales Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is presided over by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

The Assembly has 93 members, elected by single-member constituency, which are commonly known as seats. Voting is by the optional preferential system.[4]

NSW first Legislative Assembly – 1880

Members of the Legislative Assembly have the post-nominals MP after their names.[5] From the creation of the assembly up to about 1990, the post-nominals "MLA" (Member of the Legislative Assembly) were used.

The Assembly is often called the bearpit on the basis of the house's reputation for confrontational style during heated moments and the "savage political theatre and the bloodlust of its professional players"[6] attributed in part to executive dominance.[7]

History

[edit]
The Legislative Assembly chamber during debate on the Greater Newcastle Bill, 19 November 1937; Speaker Reginald Weaver presiding with the Member for Newcastle, Frank Hawkins speaking.

The Legislative Assembly was created in 1856 with the introduction of a bicameral parliament for the Crown Colony of New South Wales, a process led in the Legislative Council by William Wentworth.[8][9][10] In the beginning, only men were eligible to be members of the Assembly, and only around one half of men were able to pass the property or income qualifications required to vote. Two years later, the Electoral Reform Act, which was passed despite the opposition of the Legislative Council, saw the introduction of a far more democratic system, allowing any man who had been resident in the colony for six months the right to vote, and removing property requirements to stand as a candidate.[8] Following Australia's federation in 1901, the New South Wales parliament became a State legislature. Women were granted the right to vote in 1902, and gained the right to be members of the Assembly in 1918,[11] with the first successful candidate being elected in 1925.[12]

Chamber

[edit]

The Legislative Assembly sits in the oldest legislative chamber in Australia. Originally built for the Legislative Council in 1843, it has been in continuous use since 1856. The colour of the Legislative Assembly chamber is green, which follows the British tradition for lower houses.[13]

Function

[edit]

Most legislation is initiated in the Legislative Assembly. The party or coalition with a majority of seats in the lower house is invited by the Governor to form government. The leader of that party subsequently becomes Premier of New South Wales, and their senior colleagues become ministers responsible for various portfolios. As Australian political parties traditionally vote along party lines, most legislation introduced by the governing party will pass through the Legislative Assembly.[4]

As with the federal parliament and other Australian states and territories, voting in the Assembly is compulsory for all those over the age of 18. Elections are held every four years on the fourth Saturday in March, as the result of a 1995 referendum to amend the New South Wales Constitution.[4][b] An early election can only be held if the government fails a vote of no confidence and no alternative government can command a vote of confidence.[15]

Current distribution of seats

[edit]
For current members, see Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 2023–2027.
Party Seats held Current Assembly
Labor 45                                                
                                         
Liberal 24                                                
National 11                      
Greens 3      
Independent 10                    
  • 47 votes as a majority are required to pass legislation.

Administrative officers

[edit]

Clerk

[edit]

The clerk of the house of the NSW Legislative Assembly is the senior administrative officer. The clerk advises the speaker of the Assembly and members of parliament on matters of parliamentary procedure and management. The office is modelled on the clerk of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The following have served as clerks:

  • Richard O’Connor
  • Charles Thompson
  • Oliver Kelly
  • Stephen Jones
  • Frederick Webb CMG
  • Richard Arnold
  • William Mowle
  • Sydney Boydell
  • William Rupert McCourt CMG
  • Frederick Langley
  • Harry Robbins MC
  • Allan Pickering CBE
  • Ivor Vidler CBE
  • Ronald Ward
  • Douglas Wheeler
  • Grahame Cooksley
  • Russell Grove PSM
  • Ronda Miller
  • Helen Minnican[16]

Serjeant-at-arms

[edit]

The ceremonial duties of the serjeant-at-arms are as the custodian of the mace, the symbol of the authority of the House and the speaker, and as the messenger for formal messages from the Legislative Assembly to the Legislative Council. The serjeant has the authority to remove disorderly people, by force if necessary, from the Assembly or the public or press galleries on the instructions of the speaker. The administrative duties of the serjeant include allocation of office accommodation, furniture and fittings for members' offices, co-ordination of car transport for members, mail and courier services for the House, security for the House and arrangements for school visits. Once a meeting has started in an Assembly, the serjeant will usually stand at the door to keep authority and make sure no one else comes in or out. The following have served as serjeant-at-arms:

  • Laurence Joseph Harnett [17]
  • John Mackenzie Webb
  • Harry Robbins
  • Ivor Percy Kidd Vidler
  • Hubert Pierre Scarlett
  • Ronald Edward Ward
  • Frederick Augustine Mahony
  • William Geoffery Luton
  • Peter John McHugh
  • William Christie[18]
  • Leslie Gönye
  • Simon Johnston

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Current independent MLAs: Roy Butler (Barwon), Helen Dalton (Murray), Phil Donato (Orange), Alex Greenwich (Sydney), Judy Hannan (Wollondilly), Joe McGirr (Wagga Wagga), Greg Piper (Lake Macquarie), Michael Regan (Wakehurst), Jacqui Scruby (Pittwater) and Gareth Ward (Kiama)
  2. ^ Between 1984 and 1995, the maximum term of the Assembly was four years, but could be dissolved earlier.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Other Office Holders". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Parliament of New South Wales.
  3. ^ Raper, Ashleigh; Reading, Kristy (12 December 2022). "Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs resign from party over behaviour of leader Robert Borsak". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Role and History of the Legislative Assembly". About us – Legislative Assembly. Parliament of New South Wales. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  5. ^ "The Role of Members of Parliament". Members. Parliament of New South Wales. 28 February 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  6. ^ Dusevic, Tom (4 December 2009). "Tawdry cast sits out dance of death playing in bearpit". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  7. ^ Grove, Russell D. (Autumn 2010). "Being in Opposition – Opportunities Lost" (PDF). Australasian Parliamentary Review. 25 (1). Australasian Study of Parliament Group: 185–191. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  8. ^ a b "1856 to 1889 – Responsible Government and Colonial Development". System of Government – History of Democracy. Parliament of New South Wales. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Role and History of the Legislative Council". NSW Legislative Council. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Mr William Charles WENTWORTH (1790 - 1872)". Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  11. ^ "1901 to 1918 – The Early Federal Period and the First World War". System of Government – History of Democracy. Parliament of New South Wales. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  12. ^ "1919 to 1929 – The Twenties". System of Government – History of Democracy. Parliament of New South Wales. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Parliament of New South Wales brochure" (PDF). Educational Publications. Parliament of New South Wales. 7 March 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  14. ^ Constitution (Legislative Assembly) Amendment Act 1981 (NSW)
  15. ^ "Constitution Act".
  16. ^ "Other Office Holders". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  17. ^ "DEATH OF MR. HARNETT. Popular Sergeant at Arms". The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW: National Library of Australia. 30 September 1911. p. 17. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  18. ^ "DEATH OF MR. CHRISTIE". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842–1954). NSW: National Library of Australia. 5 October 1922. p. 10. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
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