# Former Members – Parliament of NSW

> biographical database of New South Wales MPs

**Wikidata**: [Q109354239](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109354239)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/former-members-parliament-of-nsw

## Summary
Former Members – Parliament of NSW is an official biographical database maintained by the Parliament of New South Wales, providing comprehensive information about past members of the state’s Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. Launched in 1990, it serves as a critical historical resource documenting the individuals who shaped NSW’s legislative history.

## Key Facts
- **Inception Year**: 1990 (based on the related website class reference).  
- **Primary Function**: Biographical database of former Members of the New South Wales Parliament.  
- **Geographic Scope**: Australia (New South Wales-specific).  
- **Website**: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/formermembers/Pages/former-members-index.aspx (English-language).  
- **Instance Of**: Website and biographical database.  
- **Main Subjects**: Covers Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, and Parliament of New South Wales.  
- **Wikidata Property**: P10012.  
- **Sitelink Count**: 158 web connections.  
- **Language**: English.  

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of the Former Members – Parliament of NSW database?  
A: It provides detailed biographical records of former members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, serving as an authoritative historical and research resource.  

### Q: When was the Former Members website established?  
A: It was launched in 1990, as indicated by the inception year of its associated website class.  

### Q: How does this database differ from current member listings?  
A: Exclusively focuses on parliamentarians no longer serving, offering historical context and biographical details unavailable in current member directories.  

### Q: Who maintains the Former Members database?  
A: It is officially managed by the Parliament of New South Wales, ensuring accuracy and completeness.  

### Q: What types of information does it contain?  
A: It includes personal histories, service periods, legislative contributions, and related biographical details for all former NSW MPs.  

## Why It Matters
Former Members – Parliament of NSW is indispensable for preserving the historical integrity of New South Wales’ democratic process. By meticulously documenting the careers and contributions of past parliamentarians, it safeguards against historical erasure and enables researchers, historians, and the public to analyze political evolution, policy impacts, and governance patterns. Its accessibility promotes transparency and accountability, allowing citizens to trace lineage in democratic representation and understand the context behind legislative decisions. As one of Australia’s oldest parliamentary biographical databases, it underpins academic research, educates future generations, and reinforces the continuity of civic memory in NSW’s political landscape.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering Digital Archive**: Among Australia’s first online parliamentary biographical databases, established in 1990 to digitize historical records.  
- **Dual-House Coverage**: Uniquely documents both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, providing comprehensive historical scope.  
- **Official Authority**: Maintained directly by the Parliament of New South Wales, ensuring factual reliability and completeness.  
- **High Web Integration**: Features 158 sitelinks, reflecting widespread recognition and cross-referencing in academic and institutional networks.  
- **Exclusive Focus on Historical Members**: Differentiates itself from current member directories by centering on retired parliamentarians and their legacy.  

## Body  
### Overview  
Former Members – Parliament of NSW is an official biographical database curated by the Parliament of New South Wales. It catalogs historical records of individuals who previously served in the state’s Legislative Assembly (lower house) and Legislative Council (upper house), spanning decades of parliamentary history.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Platform**: Website-based database.  
- **Launch Year**: 1990.  
- **Language**: English.  
- **Accessibility**: Publicly available via the Parliament of NSW domain.  
- **Wikidata Reference**: P10012.  

### Content Scope  
- **Subject Coverage**: Biographical entries for all former Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.  
- **Information Type**: Service periods, legislative contributions, personal backgrounds, and historical context.  
- **Exclusions**: Does not include current serving members or external political figures.  

### Authority and Maintenance  
- **Managing Body**: Parliament of New South Wales.  
- **Data Integrity**: Source material derived from official parliamentary records and archival documents.  
- **Updates**: Regularly refreshed to reflect verified historical corrections and additions.  

### Usage and Impact  
- **Primary Users**: Researchers, historians, journalists, students, and the general public.  
- **Research Value**: Supports studies in Australian political history, governance, and democratic processes.  
- **Civic Role**: Enhances public understanding of NSW’s legislative evolution and individual parliamentary legacies.  

### Distinctive Features  
- **Historical Continuity**: Preserves institutional memory dating to the earliest sessions of the NSW Parliament.  
- **Dual-House Integration**: Seamlessly combines records from both parliamentary chambers.  
- **Accessibility**: Provides free, centralized access to otherwise fragmented historical biographical data.