Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council who served in the 56th Parliament were elected at the 2011 and 2015 elections. As members serve eight-year terms, half of the Council was elected in 2011 and did not face re-election in 2015, and the members elected in 2015 will not face re-election until 2023.[1][2] The President was Don Harwin until 30 January 2017 and then John Ajaka.[3]
^ abcOn 6 May 2015, Daniel Mookhey was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Steve Whan's resignation during the last parliament. On the same day, Penny Sharpe was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by her own resignation under similar circumstances.
^ abcOn 2 May 2016, Greens MLC John Kaye died. Justin Field was appointed to fill the resulting casual vacancy on 23 August 2016.
^ abcOn 16 September 2016, Labor MLC Sophie Cotsis resigned in order to contest the Canterbury by-election. John Graham was appointed to fill the resulting casual vacancy on 12 October 2016.
^ abcOn 13 February 2017, Greens MLC Jan Barham resigned. Dawn Walker was appointed to fill the resulting casual vacancy on 22 February 2017.
^ abcMike Gallacher had resigned from the Liberals in 2014 and sat as an Independent. On 6 April 2017 Gallacher resigned from parliament. Liberal Taylor Martin was appointed to fill the resulting casual vacancy on 3 May 2017.
^ abcOn 31 July 2017, National MLC Duncan Gay resigned. Wes Fang was appointed to fill the resulting casual vacancy on 9 August 2017.
^ abcOn 15 November 2017, Liberal MLC Greg Pearce resigned. Natalie Ward was appointed to fill the resulting casual vacancy on 16 November 2017.
^ abcOn 14 August 2018, Greens MLC Mehreen Faruqi resigned. Cate Faehrmann was appointed to fill the resulting casual vacancy on 15 August 2018
^ abJeremy Buckingham resigned from the Greens to sit as an independent on 20 December 2018.
^The changes to the composition of the council, in chronological order, were
Mookhey appointed,[a]
Kaye died,[b]
Cotsis resigned,[c]
Barham resigned,[d]
Gallacher resigned,[e]
Gay resigned,[f]
Pearce resigned,[g]
Faruqi resigned,[h]
Buckingham resigned,[i] and
Voltz and Franklin resigned.[j]