Parliament of New South Wales

Parliament of New South Wales
56th Parliament
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Legislative Assembly Legislative Council
History
Founded	1824
Leadership
Monarch	Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia Since 6 February 1952
Governor of New South Wales	His Excellency General the Hon. David John Hurley AC, DSC Since 2 October 2014
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly	The Hon. Shelley Hancock MP, LPA Since 3 May 2011
President of the Legislative Council	The Hon. Don Harwin MLC, LPA Since 3 May 2011
Structure
Seats	135 (93 MLAs, 42 MLCs)
Legislative Assembly political groups	Government (52) Coalition (52)      Liberal (36)      Nationals (16) Opposition (34)      Labor (34) Crossbench (6)      Greens (3)      Independent (3)      Shooters (1)
Legislative Council political groups	Government (20) Coalition (20)      Liberal (13)      Nationals (7) Opposition (12)      Labor (12) Crossbench (10)      Greens (5)      Shooters (2)      CDP (2)      Animal Justice Party (1)
Elections
Legislative Assembly last election	28 March 2015
Legislative Council last election	28 March 2015
Legislative Assembly next election	Next state election
Legislative Council next election	Next state election
Meeting place
Parliament House, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Website
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au

Government (52)

Opposition (34)

Crossbench (6)

Government (20)

Opposition (12)

Crossbench (10)

The Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with the Australian Federal (or Commonwealth) Parliament. It is Australia's oldest legislature. The New South Wales Parliament follows the Westminster parliamentary traditions of dress, Green–Red chamber colours and protocol.

The Parliament derives its authority from the Queen of Australia, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor of New South Wales, who chairs the Executive Council of New South Wales. It consists of a lower house, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, and an upper house, the New South Wales Legislative Council. Each house is directly elected by the people of New South Wales at elections held approximately every four years.

The Parliament of New South Wales is Australia's oldest legislature. It had its beginnings when New South Wales was a British colony under the control of the 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. In 1856, under a new Constitution, the Parliament became bicameral with a fully elected Legislative Assembly and an appointed Legislative Council with a Government taking over most of the legislative powers of the Governor. The right to vote was extended to all adult males in 1858.