[9] The power to make laws that apply to New South Wales is shared with the Federal (or Commonwealth) Parliament.

[11] In 1850, the Australian Colonies Government Act was passed by the Imperial Parliament, which expanded the New South Wales Legislative Council so that by 1851 there were 54 members – again, with two-thirds elected.

In 1853, a select committee chaired by William Wentworth began drawing up a constitution for responsible self-government in the colony.

[15] Other men not able to vote included those "of unsound mind", incarcerated individuals, and members of the military or the police.

[19] In 1978, the Council became a directly elected body in a program of electoral reform introduced by the Wran Labor government.

Further reform in 1991 by the Greiner Liberal–National government saw the size of the Legislative Council cut to 42 members, with half being elected every 4 years.

[11] The Parliament building was originally built on the orders of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, to be Sydney's second major hospital.

They were able to sell it for a huge profit and in turn the government refunded them the duty as a payment for their work, thereby gaining for their construction the title of the 'Rum Hospital'.

In consultation with the parliamentary clerks, the presiding officers determine policy for the operation of their respective chambers and jointly for the Parliament.

The final step for a bill passed by the houses of parliament to become a law is the granting of royal assent by the Governor on behalf of the King.

The governor chooses the premier, usually depending on the results of the general election, who then forms a government from members of the houses of Parliament.

This is usually a straightforward decision, though occasionally the governor has to make a judgment, as in August 1939 when the governor, Lord Wakehurst, handled a major political crisis brought about when the former deputy leader of the governing United Australia Party, Eric Spooner, brought down Premier Bertram Stevens in a motion of no confidence.

Under Section 5A of the Constitution Act 1902, a bill appropriating revenue for the ordinary annual services of the government can be presented to the governor for assent even if the upper house has not agreed to it.

It is held in the Legislative Council Chamber, usually in November or December, or in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles.

The speech is not written by the governor, but rather by the Cabinet, and reflects the legislative agenda for which they seek the agreement of both houses of Parliament.

I have returned to New South Wales eight times since then and am always delighted by the warm and generous hospitality accorded to Prince Philip and me by the people of this State.

Crest badges, much like clan tartans, do not have a long history, and owe much to Victorian era romanticism, having only been worn on the bonnet since the mid-19th century when the buckled strap device commonly used by the Order of the Garter was adopted as a popular design to encircle monogram escutcheons and heraldic crests.

The emblem appears on official stationery, publications and papers, and is stamped on various items in use in the Parliament, such as cutlery, silverware and china.