The form of the
Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its
Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. Since 1901,
New South Wales has been a state of the
Commonwealth of Australia, and the
Australian Constitution regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, New South Wales ceded legislative and judicial supremacy to the Commonwealth, but retained powers in all matters not in conflict with the Commonwealth.