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Politics of New South Wales

New South Wales politics takes place in context of a bicameral parliamentary system. The main parties are the Liberal and National parties of the Coalition, and the Labor Party. Other minor political parties include the Greens, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, One Nation, and the Libertarian Party, along with several independent politicians.

The executive government (called the NSW Government) comprises 11 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. There are also a number of independent agencies that fall under a portfolio but remain at arms-length for political reasons, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Electoral Commission. The state Executive Council, consisting of the governor and senior ministers, exercises the executive authority through the relevant portfolio.

The legislative branch includes the bicameral state parliament, which includes the monarchy as represented by the governor, the Legislative Assembly, and Legislative Council. The judicial branch consists of three general courts (Local, District and Supreme Court), and several specialist courts such as the Children's Court or Coroner's Court.[1]

New South Wales received statehood upon the federation of Australia in 1901, with the state's Constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy. Its relationship with the federal government is regulated by the Australian Constitution. The current government is held by the state Labor Party, led by Premier Chris Minns. Minns succeeded Dominic Perrottet from the Liberal Party on 28 March 2023 following the state election.

The New South Wales government is sometimes referred to informally as "the bear pit", as a mark of perceived unruly behaviour within the parliamentary chambers, and 'Macquarie Street', a metonym of the street of that name where Parliament House is located, in Sydney's CBD.

  1. ^ "Section 10: NSW State Courts". Legal Answers. State Library of New South Wales. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

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