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Miscellaneous NSW Parliamentary Facts

LONGEST SITTING DAY
In session of 1885-86: the Legislative Assembly sat one continuous sitting "day" of over 56 hours.
Source: G.N. Hawker. The Parliament of New South Wales: 1856-1965. Sydney, Government Printer, 1971. pp. 158-159.


LARGEST SIZE OF BOTH HOUSES
Legislative Assembly1891-94 141
Legislative Council1932-33 122


PREMIER WHO HAS LOST SEAT
1. HOLMAN, William Arthur (Nationalist) - Election, 20 March 1920


LEADERS OF THE OPPOSITION WHO HAVE LOST THEIR SEATS
William Peter COLEMAN, (Liberal)Election 7 October 1978
Bruce John McDONALD, (Liberal)Election 19 September 1981


FIRST WOMAN LEADER OF POLITICAL PARTY IN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Kerry Anne CHIKAROVSKI, (Liberal)Elected Leader of Liberal Party (and Leader of the opposition) on 7 Dec 1998


FIRST WOMAN DEPUTY PREMIER
Carmel Mary TEBBUTT, (ALP)5 September 2008

FIRST WOMAN TO BE ACTING PREMIER
Carmel Mary TEBBUTT, (ALP)24 December 2008 - 11 January 2009


MINISTERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR SEATS (Since 1988 Election)
Francis John WALKER
Minister for Housing and Minister for the Arts
Election 19 March 1988
Peter Thomas ANDERSON
Minister for Health and Minister for the Drug Offensive
Election 19 March 1988
Terence William SHEAHAN
Minister for Transport
Election 19 March 1988
Rodney Mark CAVALIER
Minister for Education
Election 19 March 1988
Robert John DEBUS
Minister for Finance, Minister for Co-operative Societies
and Assistant Minister for Education
Election 19 March 1988
John Edward AKISTER
Minister for Corrective Services and Assistant Minister for Transport
Election 19 March 1988
Kenneth George GABB
Minister for Minerals and Energy and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Election 19 March 1988
David Aberdeen HAY
Minister for Local Government and Minister for Planning
Election 25 May 1991
Anne Margaret COHEN
Chief Secretary and Minister for Administrative Services
Election 25 March 1995


MINISTERS WHO HAVE DIED IN OFFICE
Name of Minister PortfolioDate of Death
Robert CAMPBELLColonial Treasurer30 March 1859
Daniel EGANPostmaster General16 October 1870
John STOREYPremier05 October 1921
Albert BRUNTNELLColonial Secretary31 January 1929
John Montgomery DUNNINGHAMMinister for Labour & Industry 26 May 1938
Herbert Middleton HAWKINS
(Legislative Council)
Minister for Labour & Industry16 June 1939
Clarence Edward MARTINMinister for Transport05 September 1953
Edgar Hugh GRAHAMMinister for Agriculture and
Minister for Food Production
13 November 1957
John Joseph CAHILLPremier and Treasurer22 October 1959
Arthur Dalgety BRIDGES
(Legislative Council)
Minister for Child Welfare,
Minister for Social Welfare,
Advisory Minister for Transport and
Vice President of Executive Council
22 May 1968
David Paul LANDAAttorney General24 November 1984
Raymond John ASTONMinister for Corrective Services23 May 1988


LONGEST SERVING MEMBERS
NSW LEGISLATIVE COUNCILPeriod and Length of Service
Frank William SPICER21 December 1925 - 22 April 1973
(47 years 1 month)
John Mildred CREED31 August 1885 - 30 October 1930
(45 years, 1 month)
(Also a Member of the Legislative Assembly,
February 1872-November 1874)
Ernest Henry FARRAR29 March 1912 - 16 June 1952
(40 years, 2 months)

Another long serving MLC was Anthony Alexander ALAM, who served a broken term of 41 years 9 months from December 1925 - April 1958; November 1963 - April 1973.

NSW LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLYPeriod and Length of Service
Michael Frederick BRUXNERMarch 1920 - February 1962 (Country Party) (41 years, 11 months)
Joseph Alexander LAWSONJune 1932 - August 1973 (Country Party/Independent) (41 years, 2 months)
John Brophy RENSHAWMay 1941 - January 1980 (Australian Labor Party) (38 years, 8 months)
Robert James HEFFRONOctober 1930 - January 1968 (Australian Labor Party) (37 years, 3 months)
Daniel LEVYJuly 1901 - May 1937 (Liberal and Reform, Nationalist, United Australia Party) (35 years, 10 months)
Carlo Camillo LAZZARINIMarch 1917 - November 1952 (Australian Labor Party) ( 35 years, 8 months)
David Benjamin HUNTERSeptember 1940 - April 1976 (Liberal Party) (35 years, 6 months)
Charles Alfred LEENovember 1884 - February 1920 (Freetrade, Liberal and Reform) (35 years, 3 months)
George BOOTHMay 1925 - July 1960 (Australian Labor Party) (35 years, 2 months)
Joseph JACKSONMarch 1922 - February 1956 (Nationalist, United Australia Party, Liberal) (33 years, 10 months)
Patrick Darcy HILLSAugust 1954 - February 1988 (Australian Labor Party) (33 years, 6 months)
Evelyn Douglas DARBYSeptember 1945 - September 1978 (Liberal, Independent) (33 years)
John Thomas LANGDecember 1913 - August 1946 (Australian Labor Party) ( 32 years, 8 months)
Francis Harold HAWKINSMay 1935 - January 1968 (Australian Labor Party) (32 years, 8 months)
WIlliam Francis SHEAHANMay 1941 - October 1973 (Australian Labor Party) (32 years, 5 months)

Another long serving MP was Christopher Augustus KELLY (ALP), who served a total broken term of 38 years 11 months from May 1925 - May 1932; May 1935 - March 1967.


LONGEST SPEECHES
Legislative Council - It is believed that the longest single speech (that is, in one delivery) was by The Hon. G.R. Ibbett on 20 March 1991 when he spoke for 3 hours 58 minutes on the Constitution (Legislative Council) Amendment Bill. On 28 and 29 July 1897 the Hon Sir Julian Salomons spoke for over 8 hours on the Federation Bill. This was not, however, spoken in one delivery. In the Address in Reply debate on 4 April 1990 and 1 May 1990 the Hon. G. R. Ibbett spoke for a total of 4 hours 34 minutes; however this was not spoken in one delivery.

Other long speeches in the Legislative Council have been delivered by The Hon. Ian Macdonald on the South-East Forests Protection Bill when he spoke for 3 hours 39 minutes on 29 October 1993. Sir Henry Manning spoke for 3 hours 38 minutes on the Settlement Promotion Tax Management Bill on 16 June 1943. The Hon Peter Breen spoke for 3 hours 30 minutes on the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Existing Life Sentences) Bill on 5 May 2005. On 28 October 1986 The Hon John Jobling spoke for 3 hours 24 minutes on the Judicial Officers Bill. On 1 March 1972 The Hon. C. J. Cahill spoke for 3 hours 21 minutes on the Dentists (Amendment) Bill.

The Hon J.A. Weir spoke 3 hours 16 minutes on the Local Government (City of Sydney Boundaries) Bill on 3 October 1967. Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile spoke for 2 hours 57 minutes on the Anti-Discrimination (Homosexual Vilification) Amendment Bill on 17 November 1993; The Hon. Fred Nile spoke from a wheelchair having suffered an accident.

Legislative Assembly - It is believed that the longest speech was delivered by J. C. Neild in the 1885-86 session; he spoke for 8 hours. On 24 February 1987 Dr Terry Metherell spoke for 2 hours 21 minutes on the Education and Public Instruction Bill.

The Hon. Richard Face spoke for 2 hours and 17 minutes on a motion of no confidence against him on 7 December 1995.



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