Government of New South Wales

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Government of New South Wales
New South Wales Government logo.svg
Overview
Established6 June 1856 (1856-06-06)
State New South Wales
Country Australia
Leader Premier
Chris Minns
Appointed by Governor
Margaret Beazley
Main organ Cabinet
Responsible to Parliament of New South Wales
Headquarters Sydney
Website nsw.gov.au

The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the democratic administrative authority in New South Wales, Australia, and is empowered by the state Constitution. Since Federation in 1901, New South Wales has been a state of Australia, and the federal Constitution regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, all states ceded legislative and judicial supremacy, but retained powers in all matters not in conflict with the Commonwealth.

Contents

There are 10 'clusters' of the NSW Government, as well as a large number of supporting agencies, authorities, commissions and other public bodies. These clusters (for example, NSW Health) are typically led by a ministerial department (Ministry of Health, etc.) and supported by government agencies and organisations (such as Local Health Districts, HealthShare NSW or the Agency for Clinical Excellence). There are also independent structures, such as the Electoral Commission or the Independent Commission Against Corruption, that oversee the integrity of democratic processes.

The current government is held by the state division of the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch). The current premier is Chris Minns, who succeeded Dominic Perrottet on 28 March 2023 following the 2023 New South Wales state election on 25 March 2023.

Executive and judicial powers

New South Wales is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power formally rests with the King, acting with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly—together known as the Parliament of New South Wales. [1] Executive power is exercised by the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers. [2]

The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of New South Wales and the Cabinet. The Premier and Ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of New South Wales and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

In 2006, the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in New South Wales, the Constitution Amendment Pledge of Loyalty Act 2006 No. 6 was enacted to amend the Constitution Act 1902 to require Members of the New South Wales Parliament and its Ministers to take a pledge of loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales instead of swearing allegiance to the Queen her heirs and successors, and to revise the oaths taken by Executive Councillors. [3] The Act was assented to by the Queen on 3 April 2006.

On 5 June 2012, the Constitution Amendment (Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance) Act 2012 No 33 was assented to and made a further amendment to the Constitution Act 1902, by restoring the option of taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen, her heirs and successors, in addition to the option of taking the pledge of loyalty. [4] The change applies to members of Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council.

Ministries

The following individuals serve as government ministers, at the pleasure of the King, represented by the Governor of New South Wales. The government ministers are listed in order of seniority as listed on the Parliament of New South Wales website and were sworn on by the Governor with effect from 5 April 2023, while their opposition counterparts are listed to correspond with the government ministers. [5] All Opposition counterparts are members of the Parliament of New South Wales. The full ministry was announced on 4 April 2023 and was sworn in the following day on 5 April. [6] [7] All Ministers are members of the New South Wales Labor Party.

Current composition

PortraitMinisterPortfolioTook officeLeft officeDuration of tenure Electorate
Chris Minns MP (cropped).png Chris Minns MP28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Kogarah
Prue car.jpg Prue Car MP28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Londonderry
3 August 202328 September 202356 days
Penny Sharpe (cropped).png Penny Sharpe MLC28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Legislative Council
John Graham MLC.jpg John Graham MLC28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Legislative Council
Daniel Mookhey MLC28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Legislative Council
Ryan Park MP28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Keira
Jo Haylen MP 2015.jpg Jo Haylen MP28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Summer Hill
Paul Scully MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Wollongong
Sophie Cotsis MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Canterbury
Yasmin Catley MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Swansea
3 August 2023183 days
Jihad Dib MP.png Jihad Dib MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Bankstown
Kate Washington MP.jpg Kate Washington MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Port Stephens
Michael Daley MP28 March 2023 Incumbent 311 days Maroubra
Tara Moriarty MLC5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Legislative Council
Ron Hoenig MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Heffron
Courtney Houssos MLC5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Legislative Council
28 September 2023127 days
Steve Kamper MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Rockdale
Rose Profile Pic.jpg Rose Jackson MLC5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Legislative Council
Anoulack Chanthivong MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Macquarie Fields
David Harris MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Wyong
Jodie Harrison MP.jpg Jodie Harrison MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Charlestown
Jenny Aitchison.jpg Jenny Aitchison MP5 April 2023 Incumbent 303 days Maitland
Steve Whan MP28 September 2023 Incumbent 127 days Monaro
Former Ministers
Tim Crakanthorp MP5 April 20233 August 2023120 days Newcastle

See also

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References

  1. Constitution Act 1902 (NSW) s 3 (definition of "The Legislature")
  2. "The Executive Council". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  3. Pledge of Loyalty Act 2006 (NSW)
  4. "Constitution Amendment (Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance) Bill 2012". Legislation NSW. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  5. "Shadow Ministry". Members. Parliament of New South Wales. January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  6. Cormack, Lucy (4 April 2023). "Female firsts in new Labor cabinet, where half the ministers will be women". Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales . Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police (161)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales . 5 April 2023.