Power and passion of the crossbench unpacked

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This year’s final Parliament Unpacked event will focus on the crossbench to promote a better understanding of the unique role it plays in the Parliament of NSW.

President of the NSW Legislative Council Matthew Mason-Cox said that many people may have heard of the crossbench, consisting of independents and minor parties, but not be aware of how its members contribute to legislation and other parliamentary processes.

“All members of Parliament are passionate about representing the people and the issues that drew them to public life, but those on the crossbenches often find themselves holding the balance of power thereby enabling them to directly change legislation and influence  outcomes.” said Mr Mason-Cox.

“This public talk is an opportunity to hear from members of the crossbench as they share their experiences and stories about working with their colleagues in the Government, the Opposition and each other.”

The panel of speakers for the FREE online event includes the following Legislative Council members:

The Clerk of the Parliaments will co-host the event.

The crossbench refers to members of Parliament who are independents or members of minor parties. They do not belong to the Government or to the Opposition.

There are currently 11 members of the crossbench in the Legislative Council, or Upper House, representing five parties and including one independent. 

The Legislative Council is an important house of review, charged with the duty of scrutinising proposed Government legislation and holding the Government to account.

The Crossbench: Power, Procedure and Passion, the third event in the Parliament Unpacked series for 2021, will take place online on Monday 22 November, from 5.30pm.

The program explores how the Parliament works by providing audiences with an overview of the legislature and a chance to hear about the work of members and parliamentary officers.

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