145TH ANNIVERSARY OF NSW HANSARD

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward says that this month marks 145 years of Hansard serving the oldest Parliament in Australia.

“It is hard to imagine a Parliament without a Hansard. The Official Report and the committee transcripts are used both inside the Parliament and out as crucial resources, cornerstones of transparency, and as historical records,” Mr Ward said.

“Surprisingly, the establishment of NSW Hansard was not an easy process. The matter had been debated on and off for over a decade in both Houses, with some members raising concerns regarding the cost and utility of the publication.

“One member even remarked that he was "quite convinced that the copies of the Hansard would be useless and unread on the shelves of the Clerk," and that it would "never be read by the public.” I think it is safe to say he has been proved wrong! 

“Thankfully, arguments in favour of Hansard won out. It was Sir Henry Parkes who championed the establishment of a NSW Hansard, with the Houses passing the motion in early 1879 and the funding and logistics determined during that year's Budget Estimates.

“The Parliament used the winter recess to take all the necessary steps in setting up Hansard, including the recruitment of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff. The rest is history!

“I take this opportunity to thank past and present Hansard staff who serve the Parliament in recording and editing the debates and discussions of Parliament. Your work is important and isn’t just one for the history books – it is the history books!

A copy of the first ever published daily Hansard proof is attached. It is fascinating to see just how much has changed—and not changed!

ENDS.