[6] The Court's jurisdiction over disputed electoral returns can be traced to the practices of the United Kingdom Parliament.

The Grenville Act 1770 (UK) provided for the determination of disputes by a Select Committee of the House of Commons.

In 1868, the Parliamentary Elections Act 1868 (UK) was passed conferring jurisdiction on two judges of the Queen's Bench.

Victoria and New South Wales retained the exclusive jurisdiction to determine disputed returns for themselves.

New South Wales gave the Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction over disputed returns with the introduction of section 32 of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections (Amendment) Act 1928.