New South Wales Legislative Assembly

Last updated

Legislative Assembly
58th Parliament
Coat of Arms of New South Wales.svg
Type
Type
History
Founded22 May 1856;167 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
New South Wales Legislative Assembly - Composition of Members (2023).svg
Political groups
Government (45)
  •   Labor (45)

Opposition (36)

Crossbench (12)

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.

Contents

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 NSW First Legislative Assembly.jpg
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

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. SLNSW 20846 AUP Greater Newcastle bill being passed.jpg
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. [8] 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, [9] with the first successful candidate being elected in 1925. [10]

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 houses. [11]

Function

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] [lower-alpha 2] 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. [13]

Current distribution of seats

PartySeats heldCurrent Assembly
Labor 45                                             
Liberal 25                         
National 11           
Greens 3   
Independent 9         

Administrative officers

Clerk

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:

Serjeant-at-arms

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:

See also

Notes

  1. Current independent MLAs: * Roy Butler (Barwon), Helen Dalton (Murray), Phil Donato (Orange), Alex Greenwich (Sydney), Joe McGirr (Wagga Wagga), Michael Regan (Wakehurst), Judy Hannan (Wollondilly), Gareth Ward (Kiama) and Greg Piper (Lake Macquarie)
  2. Between 1984 and 1995, the maximum term of the Assembly was four years, but could be dissolved earlier. [12]

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The President of the New South Wales Legislative Council is the presiding officer of the upper house of the Parliament of New South Wales, the Legislative Council. The presiding officer of the lower house is the speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The role of President has generally been a partisan office, filled by the governing party of the time. As of May 2023, the president is Ben Franklin.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parkes ministry (1878–1883)</span>

The third Parkes ministry was the nineteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by Sir Henry Parkes in a coalition with Sir John Robertson. It was the third of five occasions that Parkes was Leader of the Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parkes ministry (1889–1891)</span>

The fifth Parkes ministry was the 26th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the seventh Premier, Sir Henry Parkes. It was the fifth and final occasion that Parkes was Premier. The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but was not a formal position in the government until 1920. Instead the Premier was appointed to another portfolio, usually Colonial Secretary. Having served in the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1854 and 1856, Parkes was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856, however resigned from Parliament later that year. He served in the Assembly on several occasions, between 1858 and 1870, being forced to resign on 4 occasions due to his personal insolvency. He came to power as Premier on the first occasion in 1872, serving as Premier for a period of three years. However, Parkes lost the confidence of the Assembly following Governor Robinson's decision to release of the bushranger Frank Gardiner led to the defeat of the ministry in 1875.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carruthers ministry</span> New South Wales government ministry led by Joseph Carruthers

The Carruthers ministry was the 32nd ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 16th Premier, Joseph Carruthers. The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but was not a formal position in the government until 1920. Instead the Premier was appointed to another portfolio, usually Colonial Secretary. In this case, Carruthers chose the portfolio of Treasurer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McGowen ministry</span> 34th New South Wales government ministry led by James McGowen

The McGowen ministry was the 34th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 18th Premier, James McGowen. This ministry marks the first Labor ministry in the state of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1904 New South Wales state election</span> Colonial election for New South Wales, Australia in August 1904

The 1904 New South Wales state election was held on 6 August 1904 for all of the 90 seats in the 20th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single-member constituencies with a first past the post voting system. For the first time, women were entitled to vote. Both adult males and females were entitled to vote, but not Indigenous people. The 19th parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 16 July 1904 by the Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, on the advice of the Premier, Thomas Waddell.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Blayney on 12 January 1907 because Paddy Crick (Progressive) resigned from Parliament after findings of corruption made by a Royal Commission. Crick had also been expelled from the Legislative Assembly for outrageous behaviour in the chamber, however he was returned in the resulting by-election.

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of West Macquarie on 6 December 1890 because Paddy Crick (Protectionist) was expelled for outrageous behaviour in the chamber.

A referendum concerning the reform of the New South Wales Legislative Council was put to New South Wales voters on 13 May 1933 and was passed by the voters with a margin of 2.94%. The text of the question was:

Do you approve of the Bill entitled "A Bill to reform the constitution and alter the Powers of the Legislative Council; to reduce and limit the number of Members of the Legislative Council; to reconstitute the Legislative Council in accordance with the reformed constitution; to amend the Constitution Act, 1902, and certain other Acts; and for purposes connected therewith."

References

  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 (12 December 2022). "Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MPs resign from party over behaviour of leader Robert Borsak". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. "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.
  10. "1919 to 1929 – The Twenties". System of Government – History of Democracy. Parliament of New South Wales. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  11. "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.
  12. Constitution (Legislative Assembly) Amendment Act 1981 (NSW)
  13. "Constitution Act".
  14. "Other Office Holders". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.