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Role and history of the Council

Role and history of the Council

The Legislative Council is the oldest legislative body in Australia, having been established in 1823, and democratically elected since 1978. The Legislative Council has three main functions: to represent the people, to legislate and to scrutinise the executive government as a ‘House of review’.

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.