The Attorney-General's Department, also known as the Department of the Attorney-General or AG’s Department, is the national law enforcement and justice department of the federal government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The attorney-general’s department is responsible for the enforcement and compliance of federal law, the administration of justice and the oversight of industrial relations affairs.[3] The department oversees various agencies including the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the national Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
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 Robert Garran Offices, head office of the Attorney-General's Department, Barton, Australian Capital Territory. | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 January 1901[1] |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Employees | 1,461 (estimate for 2013–14)[2] |
| Annual budget | A$800 million (2011–12) |
| Ministers responsible |
|
| Department executive | |
| Child Department |
|
| Website | www |
| Agency ID | NAA CA 5 |
The head of the department is Attorney-General for Australia, currently Mark Dreyfus, who is assisted by the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department, currently Katherine Jones PSM.
History edit
The Attorney-General's Department is one of seven original Commonwealth Departments of state, commencing with the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. It is one of only three departments, along with Defence and Treasury, to have operated continuously under their original name and charter since Federation.[4]
Organisation edit
The department is organised into five groups, each headed by a Deputy Secretary. These Deputy Secretaries report to the Secretary who co-ordinates and devises departmental structure and policy.
These five groups are:
- Australian Government Solicitor
- Legal services and Families
- Integrity and International
- Industrial Relations
- Enabling Services
The Attorney-General's Department is located at the Robert Garran Offices, 3-5 National Circuit, Barton in the Australian Capital Territory.[5]
Departmental Secretary edit
The permanent secretary of the Attorney-General's Department is the non-political public service head of the department. This role dates from federation, and the first incumbent, Sir Robert Garran, was the first (and for a time the only) public servant employed by the federal government. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the first federal election and setting up the rest of the federal bureaucracy by transferring state government functions to the federal government.
From 1916, when the position of Solicitor-General of Australia was created as the second law officer and deputy of the Attorney-General, the permanent secretary served concurrently as Solicitor-General, until the two roles were separated in 1964. Under the Law Officers Act passed that year, the Solicitor-General's role was clarified as statutory counsel deputising for the Attorney-General, separate from the role of the permanent secretary.
On the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General has appointed the following individuals as Secretary of the department:
| Order | Official | Official title | Date appointment commenced | Date appointment ceased | Term in office | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Robert Garran | Secretary of the Attorney‑General's Department | 1 January 1901 | 9 February 1932 | 31 years, 39 days | [6] |
| 2 | Sir George Knowles | 10 February 1932 | 8 May 1946 | 14 years, 87 days | [7] | |
| 3 | Sir Kenneth Bailey | 9 May 1946 | 2 February 1964 | 17 years, 269 days | [8] | |
| 4 | Ted Hook | 3 February 1964 | 2 February 1970 | 5 years, 364 days | [8][9] | |
| 5 | Sir Clarrie Harders OBE | 1970 | July 1979 | 9 years | [10][11] | |
| 6 | Alan Neaves | July 1979 | March 1983 | 4 years | [12] | |
| 7 | Pat Brazil AO | 16 March 1983 | 1989 | 6 years | [13] | |
| 8 | Alan Rose AO | 1989 | 23 May 1994 | 5 years | [14] | |
| 9 | Stephen Skehill | 23 May 1994 | 1998 | 4 years | [15] | |
| 10 | Tony Blunn AO | 1998 | 17 December 1999 | 2 years | [16] | |
| 11 | Robert Cornall AO | 24 January 2000 | 31 August 2008 | 8 years, 220 days | [16][17] | |
| 12 | Roger Wilkins AO | 1 September 2008 | 31 August 2014 | 5 years, 364 days | [17][18][19] | |
| 13 | Chris Moraitis PSM | 15 September 2014 | 15 September 2021 | 6 years, 110 days | [20][21][22] | |
| 14 | Katherine Jones PSM | 16 August 2021 | incumbent | 2 years, 284 days | [23] |
Mission and outcomes edit
The mission of the department is "achieving a just and secure society". In pursuing this mission, the department works towards achieving *A just and secure society through the maintenance and improvement of Australia's law and justice framework and its national security and emergency management system".[citation needed]
Operational functions edit
The Administrative Arrangements Order made on 01 June 2022 details the following responsibilities to the Department:[24]
- Law and justice, including -
- Administrative law
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Bankruptcy
- Constitutional law
- Courts and tribunals
- Human rights
- International law
- Law reform
- Legal assistance
- Legislative drafting
- Marriage and family law
- Personal property securities
- Legal services to the Commonwealth
- Law enforcement policy and operations
- Administration of criminal justice, including -
- Criminal law policy and principles of criminal responsibility
- Matters relating to prosecution
- Sentencing and management of federal offenders
- Internal crime cooperation, including extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters
- Protective security policy
- Protective services at Commonwealth establishments and diplomatic and consular premises in Australia
- Administrative support for Royal Commissions and certain other inquiries
- Privacy
- Freedom of Information
- Native title
- Fraud and anti-corruption policy
- Whole of government integrity policy and activities
- Copyright
- National child protection policy and strategy
