THE PREMIER IS:

1. A MEMBER OF THE 'CABINET' OR 'MINISTRY'

Along with other ministers - which make up the executive government of New South Wales the premier is a member of the Cabinet or Ministry. The terms 'Ministry', 'Cabinet' and 'Executive' are more or less interchangeable.

As a part of the Executive, the Premier has a major part in the governance of the state. This means that he and the ministers are in charge of government departments or agencies, and the administration of laws. The decisions made by these people provide policy and direction for the government.

The Constitution of New South Wales gives the Governor (link to the role of the Governor) the authority to appoint ministers. In practice, the Governor asks the leader of the party or parties with a majority in the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) if they can form a government. If they can, the Governor appoints that person as Premier. The Premier will then nominate the remainder of the new ministers and the Governor will appoint them. The Premier chooses the ministry and the portfolios they will hold.

Premiers can reconstruct their Ministry but it is still the Governor who actually appoints them.
On appointment, Ministers, including the premier, are required to take oaths of allegiance to the Queen and to affirm that they will, to the best of their judgment"… freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor or Officer administering the Government of New South Wales for the time being of the good management of the public affairs of New South Wales…"

The Executive Council is the formal, official arm of government. It gives legal authority to such things as proclamations, regulations under the Acts authorised by Parliament, appointments to public office and commissions for officers of the police service. These are all said to have been done by the Governor-in- Council. The other members of the Executive are; the Governor with the Governor's Official secretary, and two of the New South Wales Cabinet Ministers. The Executive Council's job is to act on the advice of the Cabinet and give formal expression to many of these actions. The Governor is President of the Executive Council and always chairs the meetings if present.

As the chief minister the premier has all the responsibilities and roles of any Member and Minister but with a higher profile and greater level of expectation. The Premier is the senior representative and spokesperson for the Government, is usually its predominant Parliamentary performer, and tends to set the overall tone and direction of the Government. Media attention on any Premier in the last few decades has tended to present them to the public view almost as though they were the government on their own. It is they who are most likely to be held responsible by the media and public for perceived government shortcomings or to gain credits for successes. The Premier leads and coordinates the work of the Ministers, having greater authority over all aspects of the Cabinet and Government's actions than any other Minister. As noted previously, the Premier allocates (and can withdraw) the portfolios that Ministers have and, in the case of the non-Labor parties, also chooses who will be Ministers. The Premier is usually also very influential in party matters.

References:
Constitution Act 1902 No. 32.

To timeline of Premiers

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