State government
The Constitution Act 1902 No. 32 is the legal framework under which the NSW government operates. The governing body in NSW is the NSW Parliament – made up of the Legislative Assembly or Lower House and the Legislative Council or Upper House. The parliament makes laws relating to the peace, welfare and good government of the people of NSW. The supreme executive authority is the Executive Council consisting of the Ministers presided over by the Governor of NSW.
You vote at state elections to elect people to represent you in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. The NSW Government is responsible for implementing parliamentary decisions that typically affect the day-to-day lives of NSW residents such as:
- law and order
- schools and hospitals
- roads and railways
- housing
- utilities
- community services
- mining
- agriculture
- gaming and racing
Legislative Assembly
The state is divided into 93 electoral districts with one Member representing each district. The optional preferential electoral system is used and Members are elected for four years. Recent election results are at Legislative Assembly results. Profiles of elected representatives, by electoral district are at Legislative Assembly Members.
Legislative Council
Legislative Council Members represent the state of NSW as a whole rather than particular electoral districts. The proportional optional preferential electoral system is used and Members are elected for eight years. Recent election results are at Legislative Council results. Profiles of elected representatives are at Legislative Council Members.
State elections
After state elections the political party, or coalition of parties, which has the most members elected becomes the governing party. To remain in office the government must keep the support of a majority of Members in the Legislative Assembly. The Premier is the head of the state government and is ultimately responsible for its policy and decisions.
Composition of the parliament after NSW State election – Saturday 24 March 2007
|
Legislative Assembly |
Legislative Council |
||
|
Party affiliation |
Seats |
Party affiliation |
Seats |
|
Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) |
52 |
Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) |
19 |
|
Liberal Party of AustraliaNSW Division |
22 |
Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) |
2 |
|
National Party of Australia - NSW |
13 |
Liberal Party of Australia NSW Division |
10 |
|
Independent |
6 |
National Party of Australia - NSW |
5 |
|
The Greens |
4 |
||
|
The Shooters Party |
2 |
||
|
Total |
93 |
Total |
42 |