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| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (NSW) | |
|---|---|
| Post | Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (NSW) |
| Body | Parliament of New South Wales |
| Incumbent | Jonathan O'Dea |
| Incumbent since | 2019 |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Elected by members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly |
| Inaugural | Sir Daniel Cooper |
| Formation | 1856 |
| Website | Parliament of New South Wales |
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (NSW) The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (NSW) is the presiding officer of the lower chamber in the bicameral Parliament of New South Wales alongside the President of the New South Wales Legislative Council. The office mediates disputes, enforces standing orders and represents the Assembly to the Governor of New South Wales, Monarch of Australia and external bodies such as the Commonwealth of Australia institutions. The role evolved from colonial precedents established during the administrations of figures like Sir Daniel Cooper, reflecting influences from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the Victorian Legislative Assembly and the New Zealand House of Representatives.
The Speaker presides over sittings of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, maintains order under the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly, calls on members from parties including the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch), the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division), the National Party of Australia – NSW, the Australian Greens and minor parties like the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. The Speaker administers procedural tools such as points of order, questions without notice and divisions, liaises with the Clerk of the Parliaments, the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly (NSW), and oversees access for delegations from bodies like the Council of Australian Governments and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Speaker also manages the Assembly precincts, interacts with the Governor of New South Wales on ceremonial occasions, and signs warrants for appropriation bills and other documents presented to the Governor-General of Australia when federal interaction is required.
Speakers are elected by members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the start of each Parliament or upon vacancy through a ballot administered under the Assembly's procedures. Candidates typically represent parties such as the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch), the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division), or sit as independents similar to historical figures like John Ryrie and Sir Daniel Cooper. Tenure continues until resignation, loss of seat at a general election contested under the Electoral Act 2013 (NSW), or removal by a motion of the Assembly as governed by Assembly precedents and the Constitution Act 1902 (NSW). In practice, Speakers range from short-term occupants during minority ministries such as the Carr ministry to long-serving officeholders across ministries including the Wran ministry and the Baird ministry.
The Speaker enforces the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly and interprets precedents influenced by the House of Commons of the United Kingdom decisions, rulings from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and comparative rulings from legislatures like the Parliament of South Australia and the Tasmanian House of Assembly. Powers include naming and suspending members, ordering divisions supervised by the Clerk of the Parliaments (NSW), and deciding admissibility of amendments to bills such as appropriation bills and supply measures that affect agencies like the New South Wales Treasury and statutory authorities including Transport for NSW. The Speaker also determines questions of privilege, issues summonses for witnesses to appear before parliamentary committees like the Public Accounts Committee (NSW) and the Law and Justice Committee (NSW), and controls broadcasting and media access in partnership with entities like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the SBS.
Since establishment in 1856, Speakers have included colonial-era figures such as Sir Daniel Cooper, mid-20th-century presiders like Sir Daniel Levy and post-war Speakers who served under premiers including William McKell, Joseph Cahill, Robert Askin, Neville Wran, Barrie Unsworth, Nick Greiner, Bob Carr, Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian. Recent incumbents have included Bronwyn Bishop in federal contexts and analogous state figures. The roll reflects political shifts across parties: early dominance by colonial liberals and conservatives, 20th-century consolidation by the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch), and contemporary competition with the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) and crossbenchers. Notable tenure landmarks correspond with constitutional changes under the Constitution Act 1902 (NSW) and electoral reforms under the Electoral Act 2013 (NSW).
The Assembly appoints a Deputy Speaker and one or more Assistant Speakers from members such as backbenchers representing Newcastle, New England, Sydney and other electorates, often drawn from parties including the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) and the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division). The Deputy Speaker chairs sittings in the Speaker's absence and shares duties with officers like the Clerk of the Parliaments (NSW), the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly (NSW), and committee chairs of bodies such as the Budget Estimates Committee and the Privileges Committee (NSW). Assistant officers also coordinate with parliamentary services such as the Parliamentary Education Office and the Parliamentary Library (NSW).
Several Speakers attracted public attention: controversies have involved rulings during debates on legislation introduced by premiers like Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird, disputes over impartiality in contexts involving the Independent Commission Against Corruption and inquiries touching ministers in the Cabinet of New South Wales, and high-profile disciplinary actions during exchanges with figures connected to entities like Qantas or controversies paralleling federal disputes involving Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard. Other notable incidents relate to historic expulsions, confidentiality breaches, and disputes over electoral boundaries with bodies like the NSW Electoral Commission.
The Speaker uses ceremonial symbols derived from Westminster tradition including the Woolsack analogue and items akin to the mace used in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; the Mace (NSW Parliament) is central to sittings. While there is no official residence analogous to the Lodge of Government House for the Speaker, the office receives entitlements set by the Remuneration Tribunal (NSW), including salary, travel allowances and expense reimbursements reflecting determinations that also apply to members of the Executive Council of New South Wales and ministers. The Speaker's robes and insignia echo traditions maintained in institutions like the Parliament of Victoria and ceremonial protocols overseen by the Governor of New South Wales.
Category:Parliament of New South Wales Category:Speakers of legislatures