South Australian Parliament

South Australian Parliament. The Parliament of South Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It operates under the principles of the Westminster system and derives its authority from the Constitution Act 1934. The parliament consists of the House of Assembly, which forms the government, and the Legislative Council, which acts as a house of review.

History

The first representative body in the colony was the South Australian Legislative Council, established in 1843 under the Letters Patent issued by Queen Victoria. Full self-government was achieved with the passage of the Constitution Act 1856, leading to the first sitting of the current bicameral parliament on 22 April 1857. This event made South Australia the first Australian colony to establish a fully elected legislature. Notably, the parliament passed the Constitutional Amendment (Adult Suffrage) Act 1894, granting women the right to vote and stand for election, a world-first reform championed by figures like Catherine Helen Spence. Throughout the 20th century, significant events included the premiership of Don Dunstan and the landmark First Nations Voice to Parliament legislation in 2023.

Composition and electoral system

The House of Assembly consists of 47 members, each elected from single-member districts using the preferential voting system. The government is formed by the party or coalition that commands a majority in this chamber, with its leader becoming the Premier of South Australia. The Legislative Council comprises 22 members elected for eight-year terms through a statewide electorate using a form of proportional representation. This system, often involving group voting tickets, has historically allowed for the election of members from smaller parties like the Australian Democrats and the Greens South Australia. The Electoral Commission of South Australia oversees all state elections.

Functions and procedures

The primary function is to make laws through the passage of bills, which require the assent of the Governor of South Australia. The House of Assembly is the dominant house for financial legislation, including the annual Appropriation Bill. The Legislative Council reviews and amends legislation, with the power to block supply under strict conditions. Key parliamentary officers include the Speaker and the President, who maintain order. Regular proceedings include Question Time and debates on motions of confidence. Committees, such as the Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee, play a vital investigative role.

Parliament House

The parliament has met at Parliament House on North Terrace in Adelaide since 1855. The complex is comprised of two main buildings: the historic Westminster-style building constructed from Kapunda marble and West Island granite, and a modern annex completed in 1939. The original chamber of the House of Assembly is now used by the Legislative Council. The building houses significant artworks, including portraits of former Premiers and Governors, and is adjacent to other cultural institutions like the State Library of South Australia and the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Current Parliament

The 55th Parliament commenced following the state election on 19 March 2022. The Australian Labor Party, led by Peter Malinauskas, won a majority in the House of Assembly, defeating the Liberal government of Steven Marshall. The Legislative Council remains finely balanced, with the Labor Party, the Liberal Party, the Greens, Pauline Hanson's One Nation, and Advance SA all represented. Key legislative priorities have included reforms to the Emergency Services Levy, the establishment of the First Nations Voice, and investments in renewable energy projects like the Hydrogen Power Plant in Whyalla. The Leader of the Opposition is David Speirs.