View source for Parliament of New South Wales

{{Short description|Australian state legislature}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox legislature
 | background_color = #224C98
 | name = Parliament of New South Wales
 | legislature = [[Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 2023–2027|58th Parliament]]
 | coa_pic =  Coat of Arms of New South Wales.svg
 |coa_caption=[[Coat of Arms of New South Wales]]| logo_pic = Parliament of New South Wales emblem.svg
 | logo_res = 110px
 | session_room = File:Parliament house sydney nsw b..jpg
 | session_res = 200px
 |logo_caption=New South Wales Parliament logo| house_type = Bicameral
 | houses = [[New South Wales Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]<br />[[New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]]
 |crown-in-parl=[[King of Australia|King]] (represented by the [[governor of New South Wales]])
 | foundation =  {{start date and age|22 May 1856}}
 | new_session = 9 May 2023
 | leader1_type = [[Monarch of Australia|Monarch]]
 | leader1 = {{Current Australian monarch |Charles III}}
 | election1 = {{Current Australian monarch |ascension}}<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/08/prince-charles-heir-to-king-death-beloved-mother-queen-elizabeth-ii | title=King Charles III becomes monarch after death of mother, Queen Elizabeth II | newspaper=The Guardian | date=8 September 2022 | last1=Booth | first1=Robert }}</ref>
 | leader2_type = [[Governor of New South Wales|Governor]]
 | leader2 = [[Margaret Beazley]]
 | election2 = 2 May 2019
 | leader3_type = [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Speaker of the Legislative Assembly]]
 | leader3 = [[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 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407062845/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/speakerandofficeholders/pages/the-speaker-of-the-legislative-assembly.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McGowan |first1=Michael |title=House shortage: New government but parliament still under repair |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/house-shortage-new-government-but-parliament-still-under-repair-20230414-p5d0j4.html |access-date=22 April 2023 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment]] |date=16 April 2023 |language=en |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422144932/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/house-shortage-new-government-but-parliament-still-under-repair-20230414-p5d0j4.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | party3 = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
 | election3 = 9 May 2023
 | leader4_type = [[President of the New South Wales Legislative Council|President of the Legislative Council]]
 | leader4 = [[Ben Franklin (Australian politician)|Ben Franklin]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The Hon. (Ben) Benjamin Cameron FRANKLIN, MLC|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=133|website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|access-date=22 April 2023|archive-date=9 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509133543/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=133|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | party4 = [[New South Wales National Party|Nationals]]
 | election4 = 9 May 2023
 | leader5_type = [[Premier of New South Wales|Premier]]
 | leader5 = [[Chris Minns]]
 | party5 = [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]]
 | election5 = 28 March 2023
 | leader6_type = [[Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)|Leader of the Opposition]]
 | leader6 = [[Mark Speakman]] 
 | party6 = [[New South Wales Liberal Party|Liberal]]
 | election6 = 21 April 2023
 | members = 135 (93 MLA, 42 MLC)
 | house1 = [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]]
 | structure1 = File:58th Parliament NSW Legislative Assembly.svg
 | structure1_res = 250px
 | house2 = [[New South Wales Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
 | structure2 = New South Wales Legislative Council - Composition of Members (2024).png
 | structure2_res = 215px
 | political_groups1 =  '''[[Government of New South Wales|Government]] (46)'''
* {{Color box|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]] (46)

'''[[Shadow ministry of Mark Speakman|Opposition]] (35)'''
*{{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}} [[New South Wales National Party|Nationals]] (11)
'''[[Crossbench]] (12)'''
* {{Color box|{{party color|Greens New South Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[The Greens NSW|Greens]] (3)

* {{Color box|#b3b3b3|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (9){{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]] ([[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]]) and [[Jacqui Scruby]] ([[Electoral district of Pittwater|Pittwater]])}}

| political_groups2 = '''Government (15)''' 
* {{Color box|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]] (15)
'''Opposition (14)'''
* {{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}|border=darkgray}} [[New South Wales Liberal Party|Liberal]] (9) 
* {{Color box|{{party color|National Party of Australia}}|border=darkgray}} [[New South Wales National Party|National]] (5)
'''Crossbench (13)''' 
* {{Color box|{{party color|Australian Greens}}|border=darkgray}} [[The Greens NSW|Greens]] (4)
* {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party|Shooters, Fishers, Farmers]] (2)}}
* {{Color box|{{Australian politics/party colours|animal justice}}|border=darkgray}} [[Animal Justice Party|Animal Justice]] (1) 
* {{Color box|{{party color|Legalise Cannabis Australia}}|border=darkgray}}  [[Legalise Cannabis Australia|Legalise Cannabis]] (1) 
* {{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Libertarians]] (1)
* {{Color box|#b3b3b3|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (4){{efn|Current [[Independent politician|independent]] MLCs: [[Mark Latham]], [[Taylor Martin]], [[Tania Mihailuk]] and [[Rod Roberts (Australian politician)|Rod Roberts]]}}
 | voting_system1 = [[Optional preferential voting]]
 | voting_system2 = [[Single transferable vote]]
 |last_election3    = [[2023 New South Wales state election|25 March 2023]]
 |next_election3    = [[2027 New South Wales state election|13 March 2027]]<ref name="Date">{{Cite press release |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/nsw-government-takes-steps-to-avoid-easter-long-weekend-clash-2027-state-election |title=NSW Government takes steps to avoid Easter long weekend clash with 2027 state election |access-date=20 February 2025 |archive-date=19 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219012042/https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/nsw-government-takes-steps-to-avoid-easter-long-weekend-clash-2027-state-election |publisher=[[Premier's Department]] |url-status=live |date=18 February 2025 |author=[[Special Minister of State (New South Wales)|Special Minister of State]]}}</ref>
 | meeting_place = [[Parliament House, Sydney|Parliament House]],<br /> [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]],<br />[[Australia]]
 | website = {{URL|https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/|parliament.nsw.gov.au}}
 | constitution = [[Constitution Act 1902]]
}}

The '''Parliament of New South Wales''', formally the '''Legislature of New South Wales''',<ref name=":0">{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|3}}{{cbignore}} (definition of "The Legislature")</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Twomey |first=Anne |title=The constitution of New South Wales |date=2004 |publisher=Federation Press |isbn=978-1-86287-516-6 |location=Sydney |pages=163–4 |author-link=Anne Twomey (academic)}}</ref> is the [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] legislative body of the [[Australia]]n [[States and territories of Australia|state]] of [[New South Wales]] (NSW). It consists of the [[Monarchy of Australia|Monarch]], the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] (lower house) and the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]] (upper house).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Twomey |first=Anne |title=The constitution of New South Wales |date=2004 |publisher=Federation Press |isbn=978-1-86287-516-6 |location=Sydney |pages=164–5 |author-link=Anne Twomey (academic)}}</ref> Each house is directly elected by the people of New South Wales at elections held approximately every four years. The legislative authority of the parliament derives from section 5 of the ''[[Constitution Act 1902]]'' (NSW).<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|5}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The power to make laws that apply to New South Wales is shared with the [[Parliament of Australia|Federal (or Commonwealth) Parliament]]. The houses of the New South Wales Parliament follow the [[Westminster system|Westminster parliamentary traditions]], green and red chamber colours and protocols for the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, respectively.<ref name="NSW">{{cite web |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |title=Chapter 3 The Parliamentary Buildings and Precincts |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/proceduralpublications/Documents/wppbook/Part%201%20Chapter%203%20The%20Parliamentary%20Buildings%20and%20Precincts.pdf |access-date=20 February 2025 |archive-date=20 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220114355/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/proceduralpublications/Documents/wppbook/Part%201%20Chapter%203%20The%20Parliamentary%20Buildings%20and%20Precincts.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The houses of the legislature are located in [[Parliament House, Sydney|Parliament House]] on [[Macquarie Street, Sydney|Macquarie Street]] in [[Sydney]].

==History==
The Parliament of New South Wales was the first of the Australian colonial legislatures, with its formation in the 1850s. At the time, New South Wales was a [[Colony of New South Wales|British colony]] under the control of the [[Governor of New South Wales|Governor]]. A small, appointed Legislative Council began meeting in 1824 to advise the Governor on legislative matters. By 1843, this had been enlarged, with two-thirds of its members elected by adult males who met certain property requirements.<ref name=LA/>

In 1850, the ''[[Australian Constitutions Act 1850|Australian Colonies Government Act]]'' was passed by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Imperial Parliament]], which expanded the New South Wales Legislative Council so that by 1851 there were 54 members – again, with two-thirds elected. In 1853, a select committee chaired by [[William Wentworth|William Charles Wentworth]] began drawing up a constitution for responsible self-government in the colony. While many of the provisions in the committee's proposed constitution were accepted when placed before the Legislative Council in August that year, a [[Bunyip aristocracy|proposal to create a colonial nobility]] was subject to heavy criticism and later withdrawn.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/roleandhistory/Documents/03%20NSW%20LC%20Prac%20Ch02%20(press).pdf |access-date=20 February 2025 |title=Chapter 2 The New South Wales Legislative Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220122253/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/roleandhistory/Documents/03%20NSW%20LC%20Prac%20Ch02%20(press).pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=20 February 2025 |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales}}</ref>

The approved [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] structure included a fully elected Legislative Assembly, as well as a Legislative Council whose members were appointed for life. A [[Government of New South Wales|government]] assumed most of the Governor's legislative powers. The new constitution was sent to the Imperial Parliament and passed into law on 16 July 1855. On 22 May 1856, the newly constituted New South Wales Parliament opened and sat for the first time. With the new 54-member Legislative Assembly taking over the Council chamber, a second meeting chamber for the 21-member upper house had to be added to the Parliament building on Macquarie Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/chamber/Pages/The-history-of-the-Chamber.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com |archive-date=20 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220115714/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/chamber/pages/the-history-of-the-chamber.aspx |access-date=20 February 2025 |quote=Faced with the imminent establishment of responsible government, and the creation of the Legislative Assembly, it became imperative to find more accommodation to house the new bicameral Parliament. The Legislative Assembly would henceforth occupy the Chamber previously occupied by the Legislative Council. Accordingly, new premises needed to be found for the Legislative Council. This was not an easy task when building materials and skilled labour were in short supply due to the gold rushes. |url-status=live |title=The history of the Chamber |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales}}</ref>

The ''Electoral Act of 1858'' made additional changes.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|num_act|teao1858n23179|The Electoral Act of 1858 No 23a}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The right to vote was extended to most males over 21 years of age.<ref name=LA/> However, men "in the receipt of aid from any charitable institution" were ineligible. This was deemed to include all people living on [[Aboriginal reserve|Aboriginal stations and reserves]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bennett |first1=Scott |title=Indigenous voting rights in Australia |journal=Australasian Parliamentary Review |date=August 2001 |volume=16 |issue=1 |page=17 |url=https://www.aspg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/3-Scott-Bennett.pdf |access-date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329101620/https://www.aspg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/3-Scott-Bennett.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Other men not able to vote included those "of unsound mind", incarcerated individuals, and members of the military or the police.

In 1859 [[Queensland]] separated from New South Wales to form an independent colony. The Legislative Assembly was reduced from 80 to 72 members by the loss of the Queensland seats.<ref name=LA/> In 1901, New South Wales became a state of the [[Commonwealth of Australia]], and many government functions were transferred to the new Commonwealth government. In 1902, the current [[Constitution Act 1902|constitution of New South Wales]] was adopted.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Women [[Women's suffrage in Australia|gained the right to vote]] in Commonwealth elections in April 1902, and in New South Wales state elections in August 1902.<!-- the NSW Parliament site says July, which may be when the bill was passed, but the Act is dated 27 August --><ref name=LA/><ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|num_act|wfa1902n54205|Women's Franchise Act, 1902}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 1918, reforms permitted women to be members of Parliament, although no woman was elected until 1925 when [[Millicent Preston-Stanley]] was elected to represent the [[Electoral district of Eastern Suburbs (New South Wales)|Eastern Suburbs]]. That same year, a [[proportional representation]] system was introduced for the Legislative Assembly with multiple representatives from each electorate; this system lasted until it was abolished in 1926.<ref name=LA/> Women were not able to be appointed to the Legislative Council until 1926; Premier [[John Storey (politician)|John Storey]] attempted to appoint [[Kate Dwyer]] to the Legislative Council in 1921, but the appointment was ruled out of order.<ref name=women>{{cite web |title=Women in Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/Women-in-Parliament.aspx |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |access-date=20 February 2025 |archive-date=20 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220115524/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/Women-in-Parliament.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> The first two women appointed to the Legislative Council were both [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor Party]] members proposed on 23 November 1931: [[Catherine Green]], who took her seat the following day, and [[Ellen Webster]], who joined her two days later.<ref name=women/>

In 1925, 1926, and 1929, Premier [[Jack Lang (Australian politician)|Jack Lang]] made unsuccessful attempts to abolish the Legislative Council, following the example of the [[Queensland Legislative Council]] in 1922.  These attempts led to further reform, and in 1933 the law was changed so that a quarter of the Legislative Council would be elected every three years by members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, rather than being appointed by the Governor.

From 1926, people receiving aid could again be on the electoral roll. [[Compulsory voting in Australia|Compulsory voting]] was introduced in 1928.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bennett |first1=Scott |title=Indigenous voting rights in Australia |journal=Australasian Parliamentary Review |date=August 2001 |volume=16 |issue=1 |page=17 |url=https://www.aspg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/3-Scott-Bennett.pdf |access-date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329101620/https://www.aspg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/3-Scott-Bennett.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1978, the Council became a directly elected body in a program of electoral reform introduced by the [[Neville Wran|Wran]] Labor government. The number of members was reduced to 45, although transitional arrangements meant that there were 43 members from 1978 to 1981, and 44 from 1981 to 1984. Further reform in 1991 by the [[Nick Greiner|Greiner]] [[New South Wales Liberal Party|Liberal]]–[[New South Wales National Party|National]] government saw the size of the Legislative Council cut to 42 members, with half being elected every 4 years. In [[1991 New South Wales state election|1991]], the Legislative Assembly was reduced from 109 to 99 members and then to 93 members in [[1999 New South Wales state election|1999]].<ref name=LA>{{cite web |title=History of the Legislative Assembly |at=The electoral system for the Legislative Assembly: 1900 to present |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/roleandhistory/Pages/The-history-of-the-Legislative-Assembly.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=20 February 2025 |archive-date=20 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220114743/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/roleandhistory/Pages/The-history-of-the-Legislative-Assembly.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Parliament House===
{{Main|Parliament House, Sydney}}
The Parliament building was originally built on the orders of Governor [[Lachlan Macquarie]], to be Sydney's second major hospital. In 1810, he awarded the contract to [[Garnham Blaxcell]], [[Alexander Riley (merchant)|Alexander Riley]] and [[D'Arcy Wentworth]]. The contract gave the builders the right to import 45,000 gallons of rum, for which they paid a duty of 3 shillings a gallon. They were able to sell it for a huge profit and in turn the government refunded them the duty as a payment for their work, thereby gaining for their construction the title of the 'Rum Hospital'. Originally consisting of three buildings, the central main building was demolished in 1879 to make way for the new [[Sydney Hospital]], which was completed in 1885. The first building, now known as the [[Sydney Mint]], was given to the [[Royal Mint]] in 1851 to become the Australian branch of its operations; it remained a mint until 1927.<ref name=book>Geoff Stuart, ''Secrets in Stone - Discover the History of Sydney'' (Brandname Properties Pty Ltd, 1993) pp 91-93, {{ISBN|0-646-13994-0}}</ref>

The second building, originally built as the Chief Surgeon's quarters, was given to the government in 1829 for the purposes of a Parliament chamber. This chamber was added to following the growth of the legislature in 1843, and again in 1856. The last major renovation to the building was undertaken between 1974 and 1985, which saw a jumble of buildings that had become the parliamentary chambers demolished and replaced by a 12-story block linked by a fountain court to the original Parliament House.  The building was also restored to its 1908 appearance.<ref name=book/>

==Composition and powers==
[[File:Acts_of_the_Parliament_of_New_South_Wales_by_year_(1989-2024).png|thumb|Bar chart showing the number of acts of the Parliament of New South Wales by year (1989-2024)]]
[[Image:NSWLC 1843.jpg|thumb|right|250px|First meeting of the NSW Legislative Council in Parliament House, 1843 (chamber now the Legislative Assembly)]]
[[File:SLNSW_479505_2_Legislative_Assembly_Chamber_Interior_SH_552.jpg|thumb|The [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] chamber, with a portrait of [[William Wentworth|William Charles Wentworth]] on the left]]
The legislative authority, the [[King-in-Parliament]], has three separate elements: the monarch; the Legislative Assembly; and the Legislative Council.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite AustLII|date=19 November 1998|juris=New South Wales|litigants=Egan v Willis|source=HCA|num=71|year=1998|parallelcite=(1998) 195 CLR 424, 448–9 [36]|pinpoint=para. [36]}}</ref> This authority is granted by section 5 of the ''[[Constitution Act 1902]]''; an Act that itself was passed by the NSW Parliament under the authority granted to it from the ''Constitution Act 1855.'' This was an Act originating from a bill from the pre-responsible government Legislative Council, that was slightly modified and given the force of law by an Act of the UK Parliament.<ref name="1855Constitution">''[https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/resources/transcripts/nsw9ii_doc_1855.pdf Constitution Statute 1855] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406031202/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/resources/transcripts/nsw9ii_doc_1855.pdf |date=6 April 2024 }}'' (Imp) 18 & 19 Vict c 54, sch 1 ("''Constitution Act 1855'' (NSW)")</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Twomey |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KayCZfZwafwC&pg=PA1 |title=The constitution of New South Wales |date=2004 |publisher=Federation Press |isbn=978-1-86287-516-6 |location=Sydney |pages=16–22 |author-link=Anne Twomey (academic)}}</ref>

All 93 members of the Legislative Assembly are elected at each general election from [[single-member districts]] using [[Instant-runoff voting|optional preferential voting]] to terms of up to four years. The 42 Legislative Council members are elected for two terms (a maximum of eight years), with half elected at each general election. Elections for the Legislative Council are conducted on a statewide, at-large basis (meaning all members represent the entire state) using the [[single transferable vote]] system similar to that used for elections to the [[Australian Senate|federal Senate]].

In the running of Parliament, the two presiding officers have a role that is similar to Ministers and their departments. The [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Speaker of the Legislative Assembly]] and the [[President of the New South Wales Legislative Council|President of the Legislative Council]] are responsible for the employment of staff. In consultation with the parliamentary clerks, the presiding officers determine policy for the operation of their respective chambers and jointly for the Parliament.

The final step for a bill passed by the houses of parliament to become a law is the granting of [[royal assent]] by the Governor on behalf of the King.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|8A}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Other powers of the governor in relation to Parliament include the power to prorogue,<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|10}}{{cbignore}}</ref> summon<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|23}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and dissolve<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|24B}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the houses, issue writs for elections<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|11A}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and administer oaths to new members of parliament.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|12}}{{cbignore}}</ref> These powers are in almost all circumstances exercised on the advice of the [[premier of New South Wales]]. The premier and government are directly accountable to Parliament through its control of public finances and the need for its confidence, and to the public through members of Parliament.

The governor chooses the premier, usually depending on the results of the general election, who then forms a government from members of the houses of Parliament. This must be someone who can command the confidence of a majority of members in the Legislative Assembly — usually as part of a political party. This is usually a straightforward decision, though occasionally the governor has to make a judgment, as in August 1939 when the governor, [[John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst|Lord Wakehurst]], handled a major political crisis brought about when the former deputy leader of the governing [[United Australia Party]], [[Eric Spooner]], brought down Premier [[Bertram Stevens (politician)|Bertram Stevens]] in a [[motion of no confidence]]. Wakehurst asked the treasurer, [[Alexander Mair]], to form a government.<ref name=book2>{{cite book |last=Clune |first=David |author2=Turner, Ken |title=The Governors of New South Wales: 1788-2010 |publisher=Federation Press |year=2009 |location=Sydney |pages=513–521 |no-pp=y}}</ref>

The current premier of New South Wales is [[Chris Minns]] of the [[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor Party]].

Government ministers (including the premier) must regularly answer questions in the chambers and there are a number of [[select committee (parliamentary system)|select committee]]s that scrutinise particular issues and the workings of the government. There are also mechanisms that allow members of Parliament to bring to the attention of the government particular issues affecting their constituents.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |title=Question Time |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/Question-Time.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221010950/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/Question-Time.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=21 February 2025 |access-date=21 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/pages/about-committees.aspx |access-date=21 February 2025 |archive-date=21 February 2025 |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221011314/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/pages/about-committees.aspx |url-status=live |title=About committees}}</ref>

For a bill to become law, it must be passed by both the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly and be assented to by the governor. Under Section 5A of the Constitution Act 1902, a bill appropriating revenue for the ordinary annual services of the government can be presented to the governor for assent even if the upper house has not agreed to it.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|5A}}</ref>

==State opening and traditions==
{{Main|State Opening of Parliament}}

[[Image:Queen opening.png|thumb|right|250px|[[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] opening the NSW Parliament on 4 February 1954]]
The state opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of New South Wales. It is held in the Legislative Council Chamber, usually in November or December, or in a [[general election]] year, when the new Parliament first assembles. It is an occasion for much pomp and ceremony, usually with a guard of honour and with dignitaries of the state attending. The New South Wales Parliament maintains many of the traditions of the original [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], from which the New South Wales Parliament was founded.

The Governor, or occasionally the [[Monarch]], reads a prepared speech, known as the [[Speech from the Throne]], outlining the government's agenda for the coming year. The speech is not written by the governor, but rather by the [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]], and reflects the legislative agenda for which they seek the agreement of both houses of Parliament.

[[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] opened the New South Wales Parliament on two occasions, on 4 February 1954, as part of her [[Royal visits to Australia#The Queen's first visit|first visit]] to Australia, which was also the first occasion in which a Monarch of Australia had opened a session of any Australian parliament. The other occasion was on 20 February 1992, during her visit to Sydney to celebrate the sesquicentenary of the incorporation of the [[City of Sydney]], on which occasion she stated:
{{cquote|This is my second opportunity to address this Parliament – a Parliament which I described on the previous occasion, in 1954, as the Mother Parliament of Australia. It is interesting to reflect that that was the first time on which the Sovereign had opened a Session of an Australian Parliament. I was also on my first visit to Australia as your Queen. I have returned to New South Wales eight times since then and am always delighted by the warm and generous hospitality accorded to Prince Philip and me by the people of this State. On this occasion I have come to join in commemorating Sydney's first one hundred and fifty years as a city.<ref name=Queen>{{Cite Hansard |house=Legislative Council |jurisdiction=Parliament of New South Wales |title=The Queen's Speech |hansard=Legislative Council Hansard – 20 February 1992 |date=20 February 1992 |speaker=[[Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II]] |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1820781676-1257/HANSARD-1820781676-1258 |access-date=20 February 2025 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074158/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1820781676-1257/HANSARD-1820781676-1258 |date=29 June 2018 }}</ref>}}

==Longest-serving members==
Directly-elected members who served over 30 years:
{{columns-list|colwidth=width|
*[[Fred Nile]]: LC 1981–2004, 2004–2023; 41 years
*[[Henry Parkes|Sir Henry Parkes]]: LC 1854–1856, LA 1856–1895; 41 years
*[[Joe Lawson (politician)|Joe Lawson]]: LA 1932–1973; 41 years
*[[Michael Bruxner]]: LA 1920–1962; 41 years
*[[Bill Dunn (Australian politician)|Bill Dunn]]: LA 1910–1950; 39 years
*[[Jack Renshaw]]: LA 1941–1980; 38 years
*[[Gus Kelly (politician)|Gus Kelly]]: LA 1925–1932, 1935–1967; 38 years
*[[Bob Heffron]]: LA 1930–1968; 37 years
*[[Charles Lee (Australian politician)|Charles Lee]]: LA 1884–1920; 35 years
*[[George Booth (politician)|George Booth]]: LA 1925–1960; 35 years
*[[David Hunter (New South Wales politician)|David Hunter]]: LA 1940–1976; 35 years
*[[Carlo Lazzarini]]: LA 1917–1952; 35 years
*[[John Fitzpatrick (New South Wales politician)|John Fitzpatrick]]: LA 1895–1930; 35 years
*[[Daniel Levy (politician)|Daniel Levy]]: LA 1901–1937; 35 years
*[[Mark Morton (politician)|Mark Morton]]: LA 1901–1920, 1922–1938; 35 years
*[[Patrick McGirr]]: LA 1917–1920, LC 1921–1955; 35 years
*[[Joseph Cahill]]: LA 1925–1959; 34 years
*[[Nicholas Buzacott]]: LA 1925–1959; 34 years
*[[Jack Lang (Australian politician)|Jack Lang]]: LA 1913–1946; 33 years (+1946–1949 Federal)
*[[Pat Hills]]: LA 1954–1988; 33 years
*[[Bill Chaffey]]: LA 1940–1973; 33 years
*[[Joseph Jackson (Australian politician)|Joseph Jackson]]: LA 1922–1956; 33 years
*[[Billy Davies (politician)|Billy Davies]]: LA 1917–1949; 32 years (+1949–1956 Federal)
*[[Harry Levien]]: LA 1880–1913; 32 years
*[[Douglas Darby]]: LA 1945–1978; 32 years
*[[Arthur Tonge]]: LA 1926–1932, 1935–1962; 32 years
*[[Frank Hawkins (politician)|Frank Hawkins]]: LA 1935–1968; 32 years
*[[Bill Sheahan (politician)|Bill Sheahan]]: LA 1941–1973; 32 years
*[[Reg Downing]]: LC 1940–1972; 31 years
*[[Mat Davidson]]: LA 1918–1949; 31 years
*[[John Perry (1845–1922)|John Perry]]: LA 1889–1920; 31 years
*[[Richard Amery]]: LA 1983–2015; 31 years
*[[Rex Jackson]]: LA 1955–1986; 31 years
*[[Maurice O'Sullivan (politician)|Maurice O'Sullivan]]: LA 1927–1959; 31 years
*[[Thomas Henley (Australian politician)|Thomas Henley]]: LA 1904–1935; 30 years
*[[Kevin Rozzoli]]: LA 1973–2003; 30 years
*[[Richard Face]]: LA 1972–2003; 30 years
*[[Bill Crabtree]]: LA 1953–1983; 30 years
*[[Jack Beale]]: LA 1942–1973; 30 years
*[[Roy Vincent]]: LA 1922–1953; 30 years
}}

Members of the non-directly-elected Legislative Councils who served over 30 years:
{{columns-list|colwidth=width|
*[[Henry Moses (politician)|Henry Moses]]: LA 1869–1885, LC 1885–1923; 53 years
*[[John Creed (politician)|John Creed]]: LC 1872–1874, 1885–1930; 47 years 
*[[Robert Fitzgerald (Australian politician)|Robert Fitzgerald]]: LA 1885–1901, LC 1901–1933; 47 years
*[[Frank Spicer]]: LC 1925–1973; 47 years
*[[Charles James Roberts]]: LA 1882–1890, LC 1890–1925; 43 years
*[[Edward Deas Thomson]]: LC 1837–1879; 42 years
*[[George Cox (New South Wales politician)|George Cox]]: LA 1856–1859, LC 1863–1901; 41 years
*[[Broughton O'Conor]]: LA 1889–1907, LC 1908–1940; 41 years
*[[Alexander Alam]]: LC 1925–1958, 1963–1973; 41 years
*[[Henry Horne (Australian politician)|Henry Horne]]: LA 1907–1911, LC 1917–1955; 40 years
*[[Charles Mackellar]]: LC 1885–1903, 1903–1925; 39 years
*[[Kenneth Mackay (Australian politician)|Kenneth Mackay]]: LA 1895–1899, LC 1899–1934; 39 years
*[[Robert Mahony]]: LC 1921–1961; 39 years
*[[Ernest Farrar (politician)|Ernest Farrar]]: LC 1912–1952; 39 years
*[[Thomas Alfred John Playfair|Thomas Playfair]]: LC 1927–1966; 39 years
*[[Graham Pratten]]: LC 1937–1976; 38 years (+Federal 1928–1929)
*[[Henry Cary Dangar]]: LA 1874–1877, 1880–1882, LC 1883–1917; 38 years
*[[Thomas Murray (Australian politician)|Thomas Murray]]: LC 1921–1958; 36 years
*[[Hector Clayton]]: LC 1937–1973: 36 years
*[[Henry Kater (politician)|Henry Kater]]: LC 1889–1924; 35 years
*[[William Dickson (Australian politician)|William Dickson]]: LC 1925–1934, 1940–1966; 34 years
*[[John Hepher]]: LC 1899–1932; 33 years
*[[William Byrnes]]: LC 1858–1861, 1861–1891; 32 years
*[[George Earp]]: LC 1900–1933; 32 years
*[[James Concannon]]: LC 1925–1958; 32 years
*[[Otway Falkiner]]: LC 1946–1978; 32 years
*[[Harry Budd]]: LC 1946–1978; 32 years
*[[Brad Hazzard]]: LA 1991–2023; 31 years
*[[Alfred Meeks]]: LC 1900–1932; 31 years
*[[Norman William Kater]]: LC 1923–1955; 31 years
*[[William Coulter (politician)|William Coulter]]: LC 1947–1978; 30 years
*[[Jim Maloney (politician)|Jim Maloney]]: LC 1941–1972; 30 years
}}

==Emblem==
The official emblem of the New South Wales Parliament is a [[St Edward's Crown|crowned]] circlet featuring the [[coat of arms of New South Wales]] taking the form of a [[Scottish crest badge]]. Crest badges, much like [[Tartans#Clan tartans|clan tartans]], do not have a long history, and owe much to Victorian era romanticism, having only been worn on the bonnet since the mid-19th century when the buckled strap device commonly used by the [[Order of the Garter]] was adopted as a popular design to encircle monogram escutcheons and heraldic crests.<ref name="Campbell-289–290">{{cite book|author=Campbell of Airds, Alastair|title=A History of Clan Campbell: Volume 2: From Flodden to the Restoration|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|location=Edinburgh|year=2002|isbn=1-902930-18-5|pages=289–290|author-link=Alastair Campbell of Airds}}</ref>

The crest badge came to be accepted in the mid-20th century as the emblem of both houses of Parliament. The emblem appears on official stationery, publications and papers, and is stamped on various items in use in the Parliament, such as cutlery, silverware and china.

==See also==
{{Portal|New South Wales}}
* [[List of New South Wales state elections]]
* [[Parliaments of the Australian states and territories]]
* [[Official Openings by the Monarch in Australia]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Parliament of New South Wales}}
* Official Parliament of New South Wales sites
:* {{URL|https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au}}
:* [https://www.youtube.com/user/NSWParliament/videos Parliament of New South Wales official YouTube channel ]
:* {{Instagram | NSWparliament | Parliament of New South Wales }}
:*{{Twitter | id=NSWParlLA |name=Legislative Assembly}}
:*{{Twitter | id=nsw_upperhouse |name=Legislative Council}}
:*{{Twitter | id=NSWParlResearch |name=NSW Parliamentary Research Service}}
* {{citation |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/electionresults18562007/HomePage.htm |title=New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007 |work=Legislative Assembly}}

{{Government of New South Wales}}
{{Members of the Parliament of New South Wales}}
{{New South Wales}}
{{Parliaments of Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|33.86739|S|151.21269|E|source:placeopedia|display=title}}

[[Category:Parliament of New South Wales| ]]
[[Category:Bicameral legislatures|New South Wales]]
[[Category:1824 establishments in Australia]]