Opposition (New South Wales)

The Opposition in the Australian state of New South Wales comprises the largest party or coalition of parties not in Government. The Opposition's purpose is to hold the Government to account and constitute a "Government-in-waiting" should the existing Government fall. To that end, a Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Ministers for the various government departments question the Premier and Ministers on Government policy and administration, and formulate the policy the Opposition would pursue in Government. It is sometimes styled "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition" to demonstrate that although it opposes the Government, it remains loyal to the King.

The Leader of the Opposition is currently Liberal Leader Mark Speakman since 21 April 2023.^[1]

Current shadow cabinet

Colour key (for political parties)
Liberal National

Shadow Minister		Portfolio^[2]	Image
Mark Speakman MP		Leader of the Opposition Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party
Dugald Saunders MP		Shadow Minister for Regional NSW Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources Leader of the New South Wales National Party
Natalie Ward MLC		Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads^[3]^[4] Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Shadow Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales
Damien Tudehope MLC		Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Shadow Treasurer^[3] Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations
Sarah Mitchell MLC		Shadow Minister for Education^[3]^[4] and Early Learning Shadow Minister for Western NSW
Robyn Preston MP		Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Medical Research Shadow Minister for Veterans
Alister Henskens MP		Shadow Attorney-General^[4] Manager of Opposition Business in the Legislative Assembly^[4]
Chris Rath MLC		Shadow Special Minister of State Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council
Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC		Shadow Minister for Families and Communities Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion Shadow Minister for Homelessness Shadow Minister for Youth
Scott Farlow MLC		Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Shadow Minister for Housing Shadow Minister for Cities Shadow Minister for Hunter and the Central Coast
Kellie Sloane MP		Shadow Minister for Health
James Griffin MP		Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change Shadow Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Shadow Minister for the Environment
Mark Coure MP		Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism Shadow Minister for Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology Shadow Minister for South-Western Sydney
Paul Toole MP		Shadow Minister for Police^[3]^[4]
Leslie Williams MP		Shadow Minister for Women Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Wendy Tuckerman MP		Shadow Minister for Local Government
Eleni Petinos MP		Shadow Minister for Finance Shadow Minister for Sport
Kevin Anderson MP		Shadow Minister for Gaming and Racing Shadow Minister for the Arts and Heritage
Justin Clancy MP		Shadow Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education
Mark Taylor MP		Shadow Minister for Corrections Shadow Minister for Western Sydney
Gurmesh Singh MP		Shadow Minister for Tourism Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Shadow Minister for the North Coast Deputy Leader of the National Party in New South Wales (from 28 June 2024)
Tim James MP		Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Work Health and Safety and Building Shadow Minister for Small Business
Steph Cooke MP		Shadow Minister for Water Shadow Minister for Crown Lands
Aileen MacDonald MLC		Shadow Minister for Youth Justice
Dave Layzell MP		Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (from 12 February 2024)
Former Shadow Ministers
Sam Farraway MLC		Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (from 9 May 2023 to 12 February 2024)
Bronnie Taylor MLC		Shadow Minister for Regional Health^[4] (from 9 May 2023 to 28 June 2024) Shadow Minister for Trade (from 9 May 2023 to 28 June 2024) Shadow Minister for Seniors (from 9 May 2023 to 28 June 2024) Deputy Leader of the National Party in New South Wales (from 12 October 2021 to 28 June 2024)
Matt Kean MP		Shadow Minister for Health^[3] (from 3 May 2023 to 24 June 2024)