Important note
Public events continue to be affected by COVID-19. Please stay informed of current NSW Public Health Orders and COVID Safety Plan requirements at nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
With the easing of restrictions under the Reopening NSW Roadmap event organisers should take care not to assume availability of dates or government resources for events. Regular planning processes, agency consultations and approvals from landholders and authorities are still required. This includes landholder endorsement of event and COVID safety plans.
(November 2021)
Protocol
The Table of Precedence NSW
Some events will require consideration of a range of protocol elements. For example, you may have certain dignitaries in attendance at your event. Knowing the order and status in which you formally and/or ceremonially address them is important.
The NSW Table of Precedence below represents the formal and ceremonial status of members of Parliament, Government and the Judiciary. (Note that each state has their own table of precedence.)
|
1 |
The Governor-General |
|
2 |
The Governor or Lieutenant-Governor administering the Government |
|
3 |
The Premier |
|
4 |
The Prime Minister |
|
5 |
The Lieutenant-Governor if not administering the Government |
|
6 |
The Chief Justice |
|
7 |
(a) Foreign Ambassadors and High Commissioners (b) Foreign Ministers and Envoys |
|
8 |
State Executive Councillors |
|
9 |
The Anglican and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Sydney (according to date of appointment) |
|
10 |
The President of the Legislative Council |
|
11 |
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly |
|
12 |
(a) Former Governors-General according to the date of leaving office (b) Former Governors of NSW according to the date of leaving office (c) Former Premiers of NSW according to the date of leaving office (d) Former Prime Ministers according to the date of leaving office |
|
13 |
The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia according to the date of appointment |
|
14 |
The Chief Justice of Australia |
|
15 |
Leader of the State Opposition |
|
16 |
Federal Executive Councillors |
|
17 |
Justices of the High Court of Australia |
|
18 |
Judges of the Supreme Court and Judges with Supreme Court status in order of appointment |
|
19 |
The Chief Judges of Federal Courts of Australia and the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission according to date of seniority. |
|
20 |
Privy Councillors |
|
21 |
The Lord Mayor of Sydney |
|
22 |
The Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet |
|
23 |
Members of the Legislative Council |
|
24 |
Members of the Legislative Assembly |
|
25 |
Members of the Parliament of the Commonwealth |
|
26 |
Other Judges of Federal Courts and Deputy Presidents of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission according to the respective dates of first appointment to one of those offices |
|
27 |
Senior Officers in NSW of the Naval, Military and Air Forces according to seniority |
|
28 |
Heads of Religious communities according the date of assuming office in NSW |
|
29 |
Chief Executive Officers of NSW Government Departments and Authorities |
|
30 |
(a) Heads of Consular Missions according to their seniority in the Consular Corps in NSW (b) Trade Commissioners |
|
31 |
Recipients of Australian and British decorations and honours taking precedence over Officers of the Order of Australia, all according to the precedence of those awards |
|
32 |
Judges of the District Court and Judges with District Court status |
|
33 |
Ex-Ministers of the State and persons authorised to retain the prefix "Honourable" |
Forms of address
If you are inviting members of Parliament, Government and the Judiciary to your event, it is important to have an understanding of the correct forms of address. The following tables provide a summary of these:
1. Vice Regal Party
|
Position |
Introduction |
Commence Speech |
Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Governor-General |
His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia |
Your Excellency |
Sir/Madam |
|
Partner of the Governor-General |
His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) |
Your Excellency |
Sir/Madam |
|
Governor of NSW |
His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) The Governor of New South Wales |
Your Excellency |
Sir/Madam |
|
Partner of the Governor of NSW |
Addressed by their title and/or name |
Addressed by their title and/or name |
Addressed by their title and/or name |
2. Members of Parliament
|
Position |
Introduction |
Commence Speech |
Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Prime Minister |
The Honourable (name) Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia |
Prime Minister |
Prime Minister |
|
Commonwealth Ministers |
The Honourable (if members of the Privy Council) or The Honourable (name) Minister for… |
Minister |
Minister |
|
Members of the House of Representatives |
Title and name If a Minister Minister for… |
Minister |
Minister |
|
Members of the Senate |
Senator (name) Minister for…(if a Minister) |
Senator |
Senator |
|
State Premier of NSW |
The Honourable (name) Premier of New South Wales |
Premier |
Premier |
|
State Ministers |
The Honourable (name) Minister for… |
Minister |
Minister |
|
Members of the Legislative Council (if not a Minister) |
The Honourable (name) |
Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
|
Members of the Legislative Assembly (if not a Minister) |
Mr/Mrs (name) |
Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
3. Diplomatic and Consular Corps
|
Position |
Introduction |
Commence Speech |
Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ambassador |
His/Her Excellency (title and name) Ambassador of (country) |
Your Excellency |
Ambassador |
|
High Commissioner |
His/Her Excellency (title and name) High Commissioner for (country) |
Your Excellency |
High Commissioner |
|
Consul General |
(title and name) the Consul General of |
Consul General |
Consul General or (title and name) |
|
Consul |
(title and name) the Consul of |
Consul |
Consul or (title and name) |
4. Local Government
|
Position |
Introduction |
Commence Speech |
Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lord Mayor |
The Lord Mayor (of city…) (name) |
Lord Mayor |
Lord Mayor |
|
Mayor |
The Mayor (of town…) (name) |
Mayor |
Mayor |
|
Shire President |
Councillor (name) President of the…(Shire) |
Councillor (name) |
Councillor (name) |
|
Alderman or Councillor |
Alderman/Councillor (name) |
Councillor (name) |
Councillor (name) |
Notes:
- Post-nominals and initials are not used when introducing guests e.g. The Shire President of the whole Gallahganbone Shire, Councillor Chris. Sladeshield, AM would be introduced as “Councillor Chris Sladeshield, Shire President of the Gallahganbone Shire.”
- Ministers who are senators are addressed as “The Minister for………Senator, (name)
5. Ministers of Religion
|
Position |
Introduction |
Commence Speech |
Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Archbishop (Anglican) |
The Most Reverend The Archbishop of… |
Your Grace or Archbishop |
Your Grace or Archbishop |
|
Archbishop (Roman Catholic) |
His/Her Grace, The Most Reverend, Archbishop of… |
Your Grace or Archbishop |
Your Grace or Archbishop |
|
Archbishop (Greek Orthodox) |
The Most Reverend Archbishop |
Your Eminence |
Your Grace or Archbishop |
|
Bishop (Anglican) |
The Right Reverend The Bishop of… |
Bishop |
Bishop |
|
Bishop (Roman Catholic) |
The Most Reverend, Bishop of… |
Dear Bishop |
My Lord |
|
Bishop (Greek Orthodox) |
The Right Reverend Bishop |
Your Grace |
Your Grace or Bishop |
|
Cardinal |
His Eminence Cardinal (name) |
Your Eminence |
Your Eminence |
|
Archdeacon |
The Venerable The Archdeacon of… |
Archdeacon |
Archdeacon |
|
Dean |
The Very Reverend The Dean of… |
Dean |
Dean |
|
Monsignor |
The Reverend Monsignor (name) |
Monsignor |
Monsignor |
|
Priest |
The Reverend Father (name) |
Reverend Father |
Father |
6. Members of the Armed Forces
|
Position |
Introduction |
Commence Speech |
Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank e.g. Commodore, Major General, Air Vice- Marshal |
Rank, then name, then appointment, then Branch of Service |
Sir/Ma’am |
Sir |