New South Wales Legislative Assembly

History

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 Charles Wentworth. 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. 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,{{cite web | access-date = 3 May 2021 | archive-date = 3 May 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210503172900/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1901-to-1918-The-Early-Federal-Period-and-the-Fir.aspx | url-status = live | access-date = 3 May 2021 }}

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.

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.{{cite web | access-date = 3 May 2021 | archive-date = 1 May 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210501063211/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/roleandhistory/Pages/The-history-of-the-Legislative-Assembly.aspx | url-status = live

As with the federal parliament and other Australian states and territories, voting in the Assembly election 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. 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. The Legislative Assembly may also be dissolved on the advice of the Premier or the Executive Council.

Current distribution of seats

• 47 votes as a majority are required to pass legislation.

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:

• 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

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:

• Henry Tudor John Shadforth
• Charles Wray Finch
• Laurence Joseph Harnett
• William Christie
• Harold Laurence Hensleigh Harnett
• 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
• Leslie Gönye
• Simon Johnston

Notes

References

References

1. "The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly". [[Parliament of New South Wales]].
2. "Other Office Holders". [[Parliament of New South Wales]].
3. [[Special Minister of State (New South Wales). (18 February 2025). "NSW Government takes steps to avoid Easter long weekend clash with 2027 state election". [[Premier's Department]].
4. (25 February 2008). "1856 to 1889 – Responsible Government and Colonial Development". Parliament of New South Wales.
5. "Role and History of the Legislative Council". NSW Legislative Council.
6. "Mr William Charles WENTWORTH (1790 - 1872)".
7. (7 March 2005). "Parliament of New South Wales brochure". Parliament of New South Wales.
8. {{Cite Legislation AU. NSW. num_act. caaa1981n102493. Constitution (Legislative Assembly) Amendment Act, 1981
9. {{Cite Legislation AU. NSW. act. ca1902188. Constitution Act 1902. 24B
10. "Other Office Holders".
11. (30 September 1911). "DEATH OF MR. HARNETT. Popular Sergeant at Arms.". National Library of Australia.
12. (5 October 1922). "DEATH OF MR. CHRISTIE.". National Library of Australia.