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| Premiers of New South Wales | |
|---|---|
| Post | Premier of New South Wales |
| Incumbent | Chris Minns |
| Incumbent since | 28 March 2023 |
| Department | Executive Council of New South Wales |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Status | Head of the Government of New South Wales |
| Seat | Sydney |
| Appointer | Governor of New South Wales |
| Formation | 6 June 1856 |
| Inaugural | Stuart Donaldson |
| Salary | AU$481,000 (approx.) |
Premiers of New South Wales are the heads of the executive in the Australian state of New South Wales, leading ministries formed from members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and interacting with representatives such as the Governor of New South Wales. The office traces its origins to the mid-19th century colonial politics surrounding figures like Charles Cowper and Henry Parkes and evolved alongside institutions such as the New South Wales Legislative Council and the emergence of party systems including the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division), and the National Party of Australia – NSW. Premiers have played central roles in constitutional developments, intergovernmental relations with the Commonwealth of Australia, and responses to crises from the Great Depression to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
The position emerged after the 1855 grant of responsible government in the wake of debates involving Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby's imperial policy and colonial reformers such as William Wentworth and John Dunmore Lang. Early leaders including Stuart Donaldson, Charles Cowper and William Forster navigated the bicameral dynamics of the New South Wales Legislative Council and the lower house, predating formal party structures later influenced by the formation of the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) in the 1890s. The federation of Australia in 1901 and the rise of figures like George Reid, Joseph Cook, and Billy Hughes shifted political alignments, while interwar premiers such as Jack Lang and Bertram Stevens confronted economic turmoil from the Great Depression in Australia and constitutional crises that tested the powers of the Governor of New South Wales. Post‑war reconstruction saw premiers like William McKell and Robert Askin preside over urban expansion, infrastructure projects tied to agencies like Sydney Water and the New South Wales Treasury and interactions with federal leaders including Robert Menzies and Gough Whitlam.
The premier leads the Cabinet and determines ministerial portfolios drawn from elected members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and occasionally the New South Wales Legislative Council. Responsibilities include advising the Governor of New South Wales on appointments, representing the state in bodies such as the Council for the Australian Federation and the Council of Australian Governments, and coordinating with federal ministers like the Treasurer of Australia and the Prime Minister of Australia on funding tied to the Commonwealth Grants Commission. Premiers often interact with statutory authorities including Transport for NSW, NSW Health, and the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales when shaping policy in areas overseen by institutions such as the University of Sydney and the State Emergency Service (New South Wales).
By convention the leader who can command a majority in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly is invited by the Governor of New South Wales to form a ministry. Tenure is contingent on maintaining confidence of the Assembly and surviving mechanisms such as no‑confidence motions and internal party leadership challenges involving organizations like the New South Wales Labor Party or the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division). Fixed‑term considerations introduced in reform debates reference statutes and precedents involving the Electoral Commission of New South Wales and constitutional practice derived from the Constitution of New South Wales. When a premier resigns or loses supply, successor selection may follow leadership ballots in parties like the United Australia Party (historical) or negotiated agreements with the Country Party/National Party of Australia – NSW.
A chronological list begins with Stuart Donaldson (1856) and includes leaders across eras such as Henry Parkes, George Dibbs, William Holman, Jack Lang, William McKell, Robert Askin, Neville Wran, Nick Greiner, Bob Carr, Barry O'Farrell, Mike Baird, Gladys Berejiklian, Dominic Perrottet, Chris Minns and others who have shaped state policy. The roster reflects party evolution from the pre‑party colonial alignments to formalized blocs like the Progressive Party (1901) and modern formations such as the Liberal Reform Party (New South Wales). Acting premiers and brief caretaker ministries, including during the 1927 New South Wales state election and other electoral contests, appear in official parliamentary records held by the Parliament of New South Wales.
Premiers have represented a spectrum of parties: early independents and factional groupings; the Free Trade Party (Australia) and the Protectionist Party around federation; the Australian Labor Party dominant in many 20th‑century periods; and centre‑right coalitions featuring the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) and the National Party of Australia – NSW. Crossbench and minor parties such as the Country Party of New South Wales (historical), the Progressive Party (New South Wales), and recent independents have influenced hung parliaments and confidence agreements, exemplified in negotiations akin to those involving the Greens New South Wales in legislative negotiations.
Significant milestones include Henry Parkes’s advocacy for federation, Jack Lang’s economic policies during the Great Depression, William McKell’s post‑war reforms, Bob Carr’s environmental initiatives and cultural investments tied to institutions like the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and Gladys Berejiklian’s infrastructure programs including the Sydney Metro project. Constitutional moments involved interactions with governors such as Sir Philip Game and legal tests before courts including the High Court of Australia and the New South Wales Court of Appeal. Milestones also encompass electoral reforms overseen by the Electoral Commission of New South Wales and social policy achievements pursued with partners like the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
The official seat of the premier is in Sydney, with designated ministerial offices in the Chief Secretary's Building precinct and state facilities maintained by agencies like Government Property NSW. Symbolic emblems include the Flag of New South Wales and the Coat of Arms of New South Wales, which appear on government publications and premises. Ceremonial interactions involve the Governor of New South Wales and venues such as Government House, Sydney for swearing‑in ceremonies and state receptions.