Oral history project: How history was made in the Legislative Council
I particularly want to thank those former members and clerks who have given so generously of their time to contribute to the project. Most of all I want to thank them for their contributions to the history and development of the extraordinary and unique institution that is the NSW Legislative Council. This is their story.
Don Harwin MLC, President
Stage One: Keeping the Executive Honest: The Modern Legislative Council Committee System
This stage focuses on the establishment and development of parliamentary committees in the Council in 1988. The monograph draws on interviews with five former Members who were integral to the establishment of the committee system.
Read the monograph on the modern Legislative Council committee system
Hear these former Members reflect on the history of the Council's modern committee system in this accompanying video.
Stage Two: Connecting with the People: The 1978 reconstitution of the Legislative Council
This stage examines the events that led to the reconstitution of the Council as a directly elected body in 1978 and transformed the Council into a modern, democratic and representative legislative body. The monograph draws on interviews with nine former Members and two former clerks who share their experiences of this momentous reform.
Read the monograph on the reconstruction of the Legislative Council
Stage Three: The Legislative Council and Responsible Government: Egan v Willis and Egan v Chadwick
This stage retold the story of the Egan cases that occurred in the late 1990s which enabled the courts to confirm the power of the House to order the Government to provide state papers. The monograph draws on interviews with seven former members and former clerks who shared their experiences of this tempestuous period which resulted in confirmation of the powers of the House.
Read the monograph on Egan v Willis and Egan v ChadwickThe third monograph was launched on Tuesday 19 September 2017 in the Jubilee Room by the Hon. John Ajaka MLC, President. The launch included a message from Warren Cahill – Usher of the Black Rod at the time of the Egan cases, delivered by Susan Want, current Usher of the Black Rod, and reflections from the Hon. Keith Mason AC QC and Mr Bret Walker SC, counsel for the opposing legal teams.
Photos from the launch can be viewed in the carousel below.
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Interviewees from stage three of the Oral History Project
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Mr David Blunt AM speaks at the launch of stage three
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President the Hon John Ajaka MLC speaks at the launch of stage three
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Mr Keith Mason AC KC speaks at the launch of stage three
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Mr Bret Walker SC speaks at the launch of stage three
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Mr Les Jeckeln AM, Mr David Blunt AM, and Mr John Evans PSM
Stage Four: At Cross-purposes? Governments and the Crossbench in the NSW Legislative Council, 1988-2011
This stage focuses on the rise and role of the Upper House "crossbench". The monograph draws on interviews with members who share their experiences during the period 1988-2011.
Read the monograph on governments and the crossbench in the NSW Legislative Council
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Contributors to stage four of the oral history project
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President the Hon John Ajaka MLC speaks at the launch of stage four
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Mr David Blunt speaks at the launch of stage four
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Mr Antony Green speaks at the launch of stage four
Acknowledgement
This Project has benefited greatly from the expertise and involvement of Dr David Clune OAM, the former NSW Parliamentary Historian. Dr Clune is the Consultant Historian to the Legislative Council Oral History Project. The Council thanks him for his valued assistance and ongoing interest in the Project.