The Constitution Amendment (Pledge of Loyalty) Act 2006 No 6, was an Act that amended the ''

Constitution Act 1902 The Constitution of New South Wales is composed of both unwritten and written elements that set out the structure of Government in the State of New South Wales. While the most important parts are codified in the Constitution Act 1902, major par ...

'' to require Members of the

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Parliament and its Ministers to take a pledge of loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales instead of swearing allegiance to Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

her heirs and successors, and to revise the oaths taken by Executive Councillors. The Act was assented to by the

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

on 3 April 2006.

Purpose

In 2006 the NSW parliament, the oldest of the Australian States, passed an Act to remove requirements for members of their Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council to pledge allegiance to the Queen, her heirs, and successors. The oath was replaced with an oath of loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales.

Text of the Act

Legislative Council or Legislative Assembly

* (1) A Member of the

Legislative Council A legislative council is the legislature, or one of the legislative chambers, of a nation, colony, or subnational division such as a province or state. It was commonly used to label unicameral or upper house legislative bodies in the Brit ...

or the Legislative Assembly is not permitted to sit or vote in the House to which the Member has been elected until the Member has taken the pledge of loyalty before the Governor or other person authorised by the Governor for that purpose. * (2) The pledge of loyalty is to be in the following form: ** Under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales. * (3) A Member may omit the words "Under God" when taking the pledge of loyalty. * (4) A Member is not required, despite any other Act or law, to swear allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II or her heirs and successors before sitting or voting in the Legislative Council or the Legislative Assembly. * (5) This section applies only to Members elected after the commencement of the Constitution Amendment (Pledge of Loyalty) Act 2006.

Executive Council

* (1) Before assuming office, a person appointed as a member of the Executive Council is to take: ** (a) the pledge of loyalty, and ** (b) the Executive Councillor's oath of office, before the Governor or other person authorised by the Governor for that purpose. * (2) The pledge of loyalty is to be in the following form: ** Under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales. * (3) A member of the Executive Council may omit the words "Under God" when taking the pledge of loyalty. * (4) The Executive Councillor's oath of office is to be in the following form: ** I, being appointed as a member of the Executive Council of New South Wales, do swear that I will perform the functions and duties of an Executive Councillor faithfully and to the best of my ability and, when required to do so, freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor or officer administering the Government of New South Wales for the time being for the good management of the public affairs of New South Wales, and that I will not directly or indirectly reveal matters debated in the council and committed to my secrecy, but that I will in all things be a true and faithful councillor. So help me God. *(5) A member of the Executive Council may, instead of taking the Executive Councillor's oath, make an affirmation to the same effect. *(6) This section applies only to members of the Executive Council appointed after the commencement of the Constitution Amendment (Pledge of Loyalty) Act 2006.

Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance Act 2012

On 5 June 2012, the Constitution Amendment (Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance) Act 2012 No 33 was assented to and made a further amendment to the ''Constitution Act 1902'', by restoring the option of taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen, her heirs and successors, in addition to the option of taking the pledge of loyalty. The change applies to members of Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council.

References

External links

Government of New South Wales websiteNew South Wales Government Annual Reports and Other Publications
* *{{cite web, url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/shadow-ministry.aspx , title=Shadow Ministers (by Seniority) , work=Parliament of New South Wales official website * Oaths of allegiance New South Wales legislation 2006 in New South Wales