N.S.W. Votes To Keep Upper House

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 13

N.S.W. Votes To Keep Upper House

SYDNEY, April 30.

The people of New South Wales yesterday voted decisively in favour of retention of the State Parliament’s Upper House.

Late last night, the Premier, Mr Robert Heffron, conceded that the Labour Government’s attempt to abolish the Legislative Council had failed. "The public has spoken and its decision must be accepted,” he said.

Shortly before he spoke, the progress total count was 530,658 against abolition and 277,526 in favour. The issue will be decided by a simple majority.

One of the most significant features of the figures was the failure of the vote for abolition in the moderate Labour electorates. The Labour Government

campaigned strongly for the abolition of the 136-year-old Upper House, while the Opposition advocated its retention.

Most of the deep-rooted op- . position to the Legislative ' Council lies in the method of electing its members, who now number 60. Little reform has taken place in the council's powers and it was not until 1933 that a referendum altered the method of election. Previously. members were nominated by the State Governor. Since then they have been elected every three years by members of the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council became the first legislative body in the Australian colonies 137 years ago. For a number of years its administration covered the area now occupied by Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and New Zealand. When created in 1823, it had seven members appointed by the Governor In 1840, the council had 36 members, and the figure grew over the years. For nearly the whole of the present century the Legislative Council has been the target of criticism as a refuge for political reactionaries. Its existence has been threatened a number of times. It had some very narrow escapes The last attempt to abolish the Upper House was made 35 years ago by a Labour Premier, Mr J. T. Lang. In yesterday’s referendum, Mr Lang urged against abolishing the Legislative Council.