Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)

Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition
Incumbent John Robertson
Term length	While leader of the largest political party not in government
Inaugural holder	Charles Lee
Formation	23 March 1901
Deputy	Carmel Tebbutt

The role of the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition (Or more commonly the Leader of the Opposition or the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly) in New South Wales is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the oppossition on the floor of parliament. They act as a chief critic of the government and ultimately attempt to portray the opposition as a feasible alternate government. They are also given certain additional rights under parliamentary standing orders, such as extended time limits for speeches.

List of Leaders of the Opposition in New South Wales^[1]

Opposition Leader	Party	Dates in Opposition
Charles Lee	Liberal Reform	23 March 1901 – 18 September 1902
Joseph Carruthers	Liberal Reform	18 September 1902 – 30 August 1904
James McGowen	Labor	20 September 1904 – 21 October 1910
Charles Wade	Liberal Reform	21 October 1910 – 15 November 1916
Ernest Durack	Labor	22 November 1916 – 19 February 1917
John Storey	Labor	22 February 1917 – 13 April 1920
George Fuller (1st time)	Nationalist	14 April 1920 – 13 April 1922
James Dooley	Labor	20 April 1922 – 31 July 1923
Greg McGirr	Labor	9 March 1923 – 16 April 1923
Bill Dunn	Labor	16 April 1923 – 31 July 1923
Jack Lang (1st time)	Labor	31 July 1923 – 17 June 1925
Sir George Fuller (2nd time)	Nationalist	23 June 1925 – 24 September 1925
Thomas Bavin (1st time)	Nationalist	24 September 1925 – 18 October 1927
Jack Lang (2nd time)	Labor	18 October 1927 – 4 November 1930
Thomas Bavin (2nd time)	Nationalist United Australia	25 November 1930 – 5 April 1932
Sir Bertram Stevens	United Australia	5 April 1932 – 13 May 1932
Jack Lang (3rd time)	Labor	22 June 1932 – 5 September 1939
William McKell	Labor	5 September 1939 – 16 May 1941
Alexander Mair (1st time)	United Australia Democratic	19 May 1941 – 10 February 1944
Reginald Weaver	Democratic Liberal	10 February 1944 – 12 November 1945
Alexander Mair (2nd time)	Liberal	13 November 1945 – 20 March 1946
Vernon Treatt	Liberal	20 March 1946 – 10 August 1954
Murray Robson	Liberal	17 August 1954 – 20 September 1955
Pat Morton	Liberal	20 September 1955 – 17 July 1959
Sir Robert Askin	Liberal	17 July 1959 – 13 May 1965
Jack Renshaw	Labor	14 May 1965 – 23 July 1968
Pat Hills	Labor	30 July 1968 – 3 December 1973
Neville Wran	Labor	3 December 1973 – 14 May 1976
Sir Eric Willis	Liberal	15 May 1976 – 16 December 1977
Peter Coleman	Liberal	16 December 1977 – 7 October 1978
John Mason	Liberal	24 October 1978 – 29 May 1981
Bruce McDonald	Liberal	1 June 1981 – 12 October 1981
John Dowd	Liberal	27 October 1981 – 15 March 1983
Nick Greiner	Liberal	15 March 1983 – 25 March 1988
Bob Carr	Labor	6 April 1988 – 4 April 1995
Peter Collins	Liberal	4 April 1995 – 7 December 1998
Kerry Chikarovski	Liberal	7 December 1998 – 28 March 2002
John Brogden	Liberal	28 March 2002 – 1 September 2005
Peter Debnam	Liberal	1 September 2005 – 4 April 2007
Barry O'Farrell	Liberal	4 April 2007 – 28 March 2011
John Robertson	Labor	31 March 2011 – present

References

1. ^ "Leaders of the Opposition in the NSW Legislative Assembly, 1901 - present". http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/ResourcesFactsopplead. 

See also

• Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party
• Leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales
• Opposition (Australia)