Australian Politics and Policy - Senior, 2019a

New South Wales
(MLAs) (see Table 1). The Assembly occupied a more central position in the
democratic process than it ever would again. In the early 20th century, Labor and
non-Labor parties began to control the Assembly. The house’s deliberation and
scrutiny functions atrophied as governments gagged debate and rushed legislation
through. 11
The main exception to majority party control of the Assembly occurred after
the 1991 election, which left the Liberal–National Coalition government of Nick
Greiner in a minority. In return for support from three independent members,
Greiner implemented a charter of reform that led to a revival of the Assembly’s
deliberative and scrutiny processes. 12
With the return to majority government at the 1995 election, the Assembly
reverted to government dominance, a situation that remains today. The Assembly
does, however, exercise partisan scrutiny of the executive through attempts by the
opposition to score points, for example, at question time. 13
The Legislative Council
After 1856, the appointed Legislative Council was intended to be a house of review
and a conservative check on the popularly elected Assembly. Until 1934, members
of the Legislative Council (MLCs) were appointed by the governor. From 1934 until
1978, all MLCs were elected by members of both houses of parliament. 14
TheadventofLaborgovernmentsfrom1910sawanincreaseinconflictbetween
the lower and upper houses, as the Council treated Labor’s legislative programs more
harshly than those of non-ALP administrations. Between the 1920s and the 1960s,
Labor governments made several unsuccessful attempts to abolish the Council. 15
In the 1970s, Labor Premier Neville Wran was determined to reform a Council
he could not abolish. After much negotiation, the opposition agreed to a reform
proposal that was then overwhelmingly passed by a referendum in 1978. It provided
forahouseof45memberselectedbyproportionalrepresentationonastatewide
basis. One-third retired at each general election. 16
Further change came under Liberal Premier Nick Greiner. In 1991, the Council
was reduced to 42 members and the term of office reduced from 12 to eight years,
with half the MLCs ending their terms at each election. The quota required for
election was consequently lowered, increasing the opportunities for minor party
and independent representation. No government has controlled the upper house
11 Clune and Griffith 2006.
12 Clune and Griffith 2006; Smith 1995.
13 Clune and Griffith 2006; Smith 2012b.
14 Clune and Griffith 2006; Turner 1969.
15 Clune and Griffith 2006; Turner 1969; Twomey 2004.
16 Clune 2017.
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