Parliament of NSW Revenue and Competitors

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges the traditional owners, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, along with all the Traditional Owners of the lands it represents, and thanks them for their custodianship of country. The Parliament of New South Wales is Australia's oldest legislative body. It had its beginnings when NSW was a British Colony under the control of a Governor appointed by the British Government. A small appointed Legislative Council of government officials began meeting in 1824 to advise the Governor on legislative matters. By 1843, this had been enlarged with two-thirds of its members elected by adult males who met certain property requirements. In 1856, under a new Constitution, the Parliament became bicameral with a fully elected Legislative Assembly and an appointed Legislative Council. The right to vote was extended to all adult males in 1858. In 1901 New South Wales became a sovereign state of the Commonwealth of Australia and many government functions were transferred to the new Commonwealth Government. In 1902 women gained the right to vote and the current Constitution of NSW was adopted (although changed many times since). By the 1980s, the Legislative Council had, like the Legislative Assembly, become a fully democratically elected house.