{{short description|Lower house of the Parliament of New South Wales}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox legislature |background_color = #307159 |name = Legislative Assembly |legislature = 58th Parliament | coa_pic = Coat of Arms of New South Wales.svg | coa_res = 200px |session_room = |foundation = {{start date and age|22 May 1856}} |house_type = Lower house |body = Parliament of New South Wales |leader1_type = Speaker |leader1 = 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> |party1 = Independent |election1 = 9 May 2023 |leader2_type = Deputy Speaker |leader2 = Sonia Hornery<ref name="OOH">{{cite web |title=Other Office Holders |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/other-office-holders.aspx |website=www.parliament.nsw.gov.au |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |access-date=7 April 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531224027/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/other-office-holders.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> |party2 = Labor |election2 = 9 May 2023 |leader3_type = Leader of the House |leader3 = Ron Hoenig |party3 = Labor |election3 = 5 April 2023 | leader5_type = Government Whip | leader5 = Nathan Hagarty | party5 = Labor | election5 = 17 October 2023 | leader6_type = Deputy Government Whip | leader6 = Liesl Tesch | party6 = Labor | election6 = 18 March 2025 | leader7_type = Manager of Opposition Business | leader7 = Alister Henskens | party7 = Liberal | election7 = 3 May 2023 | leader8_type = Opposition Whip | leader8 = Adam Crouch | party8 = Liberal | election8 = 21 April 2023 |members = 93 |structure1 = File:58th Parliament NSW Legislative Assembly.svg |structure1_res = 200px |structure1_alt = | political_groups1= '''Government (46)''' * {{Color box|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} Labor (46)
'''Opposition (35)''' *{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal (24) * {{Color box|{{party color|National Party of Australia – NSW}}|border=darkgray}} Nationals (11) '''Crossbench (12)''' * {{Color box|{{party color|Greens New South Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Greens (3)
* {{Color box|#b3b3b3|border=darkgray}} Independent (9){{efn|Current independent MLAs: Roy Butler (Barwon), Helen Dalton (Murray), Phil Donato (Orange), Alex Greenwich (Sydney), Judy Hannan (Wollondilly), Joe McGirr (Wagga Wagga), Greg Piper (Lake Macquarie), Michael Regan (Wakehurst) and Jacqui Scruby (Pittwater)}}
| voting_system1 = Optional preferential voting | term_length = 4 years |last_election1 = 25 March 2023 |next_election1 = 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=19 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}}</ref> |meeting_place = Legislative Assembly Chamber<br /> Parliament House, Sydney,<br /> New South Wales, Australia |website = [https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/welcome.aspx 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.
The Assembly has 93 members, elected by single-member constituency, which are commonly known as seats. Voting is by the optional preferential system.<ref name="NSWpl-4"/> thumb|NSW first Legislative Assembly – 1880
Members of the Legislative Assembly have the post-nominals MP after their names.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/MembersAbout | title = The Role of Members of Parliament | work = Members | publisher = Parliament of New South Wales | date = 28 February 2008 | access-date = 3 April 2011 | archive-date = 24 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110424004156/https://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/MembersAbout | url-status = dead }}</ref> 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"<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/tawdry-cast-sits-out-dance-of-death-playing-in-bearpit/story-e6frg6nf-1225806785700 | title = Tawdry cast sits out dance of death playing in bearpit | work = The Australian | publisher = News Limited | author = Dusevic, Tom | date = 4 December 2009 | access-date = 20 May 2011 }}</ref> attributed in part to executive dominance.<ref>{{cite journal |url = http://www.aspg.org.au/journal/2010autumn_25_1/17_GroveA.pdf |title = Being in Opposition – Opportunities Lost |journal = Australasian Parliamentary Review |publisher = Australasian Study of Parliament Group |volume = 25 |number = 1 |author = Grove, Russell D. |pages = 185–191 |date = Autumn 2010 |access-date = 20 May 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110226222141/http://www.aspg.org.au/journal/2010autumn_25_1/17_GroveA.pdf |archive-date = 26 February 2011 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>
==History== [[File:SLNSW 20846 AUP Greater Newcastle bill being passed.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The Legislative Assembly chamber during debate on the ''[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/gna1937n20208.pdf Greater Newcastle Bill]'', 19 November 1937; Speaker Reginald Weaver presiding with the Member for Newcastle, Frank Hawkins speaking.]] [[File:SLNSW_479505_2_Legislative_Assembly_Chamber_Interior_SH_552.jpg|thumb|The Legislative Assembly chamber, with a portrait of William Charles Wentworth on the left.]] 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.<ref name="NSWpl-1">{{cite web|date=25 February 2008|title=1856 to 1889 – Responsible Government and Colonial Development|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1856-to-1889-Responsible-Government-and-Colonial-.aspx|access-date=3 May 2021|work=System of Government – History of Democracy|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505170149/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1856-to-1889-Responsible-Government-and-Colonial-.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LC">{{cite web |title=Role and History of the Legislative Council |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422092518/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ |archive-date=22 April 2016 |access-date=28 May 2016 |publisher=NSW Legislative Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr William Charles WENTWORTH (1790 - 1872) |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=239 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Parliament of New South Wales |archive-date=7 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007131350/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=239 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="NSWpl-1" /> 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,<ref name="NSWpl-2">{{cite web | url = http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1901-to-1918-The-Early-Federal-Period-and-the-Fir.aspx | title = 1901 to 1918 – The Early Federal Period and the First World War | work = System of Government – History of Democracy | publisher = Parliament of New South Wales | date = 25 February 2008 | 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 }}</ref> with the first successful candidate being elected in 1925.<ref name="NSWpl-3">{{cite web | url = http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1919-to-1929-The-Twenties.aspx | title = 1919 to 1929 – The Twenties | work = System of Government – History of Democracy | publisher = Parliament of New South Wales | date = 25 February 2008 | access-date = 3 May 2021 }}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliament of New South Wales brochure |date=7 March 2005 |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/publications.nsf/key/Parliamentcolourbrochure/$File/ColBrochureEnglish.pdf |work=Educational Publications |access-date=30 June 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040015/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/publications.nsf/key/Parliamentcolourbrochure/$File/ColBrochureEnglish.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==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.<ref name="NSWpl-4">{{cite web | url = https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/roleandhistory/pages/the-history-of-the-legislative-assembly.aspx | title = Role and History of the Legislative Assembly | work = About us – Legislative Assembly | publisher = Parliament of New South Wales | date = 25 February 2008 | 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 }}</ref>
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.<ref name="NSWpl-4"/>{{efn|Between 1984 and 1995, the maximum term of the Assembly was four years, but could be dissolved earlier.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|num_act|caaa1981n102493|Constitution (Legislative Assembly) Amendment Act, 1981}}</ref>}} 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.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902|24B}}</ref>
==Current distribution of seats== {{for|current members|Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 2023–2027}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan=1 | Party ! colspan=1 | Seats held ! rowspan=1 colspan=46 | '''Current Assembly''' |- |- | rowspan=2 | Labor || rowspan=2 | 46 | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | | {{Australian party style|Labor}} | |- || Liberal || 24 | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | | {{Australian party style|Liberal}} | |- || National || 11 | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | | {{Australian party style|Nationals}} | |- || Greens || 3 | {{Australian party style|Greens}} | | {{Australian party style|Greens}} | | {{Australian party style|Greens}} | |- || Independent || 9 | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | | {{Australian party style|Independent}} | |}
* 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. Notable clerks have included William Rupert McCourt and Ivor Vidler
===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.
== See also == {{Portal|New South Wales}} * 2023 New South Wales state election * List of New South Wales state by-elections * Parliaments of the Australian states and territories * Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly * New South Wales Legislative Assembly electoral districts * Women in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/welcome.aspx Official website] *{{Twitter | id=NSWParlLA |name=Legislative Assembly}} *{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|ca1902188|Constitution Act 1902}} * [https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/proceduralpublications/Pages/wppbook.aspx NSW Legislative Assembly Practice, Procedure and Privilege]
{{Parliaments of Australia}} {{Members of the Parliament of New South Wales}} {{Government of New South Wales}} {{NSWCurrentMLAs}} {{coord missing|New South Wales}}
Category:New South Wales Legislative Assembly Category:Parliament of New South Wales New South Wales Category:1856 establishments in Australia