King Charles visits New South Wales Parliament to mark the bicentenary of the Legislative Council before visiting the Australian Federal Parliament
HM King Charles III, Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, visited the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia on 20 October 2024 to mark the bicentenary of the New South Wales Legislative Council.
The King was welcomed by the CPA President (2023-2024), Hon. Ben Franklin, MLC, President of the Legislative Council of New South Wales and the Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Hon. Greg Piper, MP.
The visit took place ahead of the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference due to be hosted by the Parliament of New South Wales and CPA New South Wales Branch from 3 to 8 November 2024 in Sydney, Australia.
King Charles said in his speech:
“I am delighted and proud to return to the Parliament of New South Wales in order to celebrate the occasion of its bicentenary. It is fascinating to reflect back to two hundred years ago and thinking about those times makes me wonder what that inaugural handful of Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council would make of this Parliament today and of how this great State has progressed.
To reflect on the story of this institution and this State is to see the promise and power of representative democracy. Generations of voices have been brought together for discussion and debate, grappling with each day’s challenges and opportunities, holding power to account and driving meaningful change. Democratic systems must evolve to remain fit for purpose, but they are nevertheless essentially sound systems when underpinned by wisdom and good faith. Democracy has an extraordinary capacity for innovation, compromise and adaptability, as well as stability. Moreover, strong parliamentary systems are fundamental to the democracies that serve today’s diverse societies and are even more vital given the ever changing natural, social, economic and technological environment.”
King Charles has a long association with the New South Wales Parliament, having first visited in 1974 to mark the Legislative Council’s 150th anniversary.
During today's visit, King Charles presented a gift of an hourglass to the Legislative Council of New South Wales as well as meeting special guests including artist and creator of Bicentenary Aboriginal artwork Ngurra Jagun, Kim Healey, and Sophia Huckel, winner of the inaugural New South Wales Parliament Regional Public Speaking Competition.
Watch below as King Charles spoke to MPs and parliamentary staff as he visited the Parliament of New South Wales (video credit Sky News Australia).
Earlier, King Charles III met with the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, who is also the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for 2024. Since 1989, the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has traditionally been the Head of State or Government of the CPA Branch hosting the forthcoming annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
Above: King Charles met with the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, at Admiralty House in Sydney. Image credit: Department of the Australian Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Australian Parliament welcomes King Charles during a visit to Canberra
HM King Charles III, Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, accompanied by Queen Camilla visited the Parliament of Australia in Canberra on 21 October 2024.
At Parliament House, The King was greeted with a 21-gun salute before inspecting the Royal Guard of Honour. The royal couple were welcomed by the Joint CPA Australia Branch Presidents - Senator Hon. Sue Lines, President of the Australian Senate and Hon. Milton Dick, MP, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.
The King and Queen then attended a Parliamentary reception in the Great Hall, hosted by the Australian Prime Minister, Hon. Anthony Albanese, MP and Ms Jodie Haydon which was also attended by Parliamentarians, community leaders and Australians who have excelled in the fields of health, arts, culture and sport. Aboriginal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan also gave a Welcome to Country.
Image credits: Department of the Australian Prime Minister and Cabinet.
One of the largest gatherings of Commonwealth Parliamentarians, the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will bring together over 700 Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision makers from across the Commonwealth for this unique conference and networking opportunity.
During the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, there will also be a number of additional conferences and meetings including: 40th CPA Small Branches Conference; 8th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference; meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network; the CPA General Assembly and meetings of the CPA Executive Committee; and the 58th Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT) meetings.
During the conference, a number of elections will also take place for the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, the CPA Small Branches Chairperson and the CPA Vice-Chairperson.
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Further information about the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) can be found at the official conference website and also at the 67th CPC Hub.
On social media follow the hashtag #67CPC
Images of the 67th CPC are also available at the CPA's Flickr page.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) organises its annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) to address global political issues and developments in the parliamentary system through conference workshops and sessions for leading Parliamentarians representing Parliaments and Legislatures throughout the Commonwealth.
The CPA is an international community of almost 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.
For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.
