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Attorney-General of Australia

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Attorney-General of Australia
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia
Incumbent
Mark Dreyfus
since 1 June 2022
Attorney-General's Department
StyleThe Honourable (formal)
Attorney-General (spoken)
Member ofCabinet of Australia
Federal Executive Council
National Security Committee
Indigenous Policy Committee
Governance Committee
SeatCanberra, ACT
AppointerGovernor-General
on the advice of the prime minister
Term lengthAt the Governor-General's pleasure
Formation1 January 1901
First holderAlfred Deakin
Salary$336,599.25[1]
Websitewww.ag.gov.au

The attorney-general of Australia (AG), also known as the Commonwealth attorney-general,[2] is the minister of state and chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia charged with overseeing federal legal affairs and public security as the head of the Attorney-General’s Department. The current attorney-general is Mark Dreyfus, who was chosen by prime minister Anthony Albanese in June 2022 following the 2022 federal election.[3] By convention, the attorney-general is a lawyer.

The attorney-general is one of only four positions in the Commonwealth Government to have continuously been held since federation, along with the prime minister, the minister for defence and the treasurer.[4]

History

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The attorney-general is nearly always a person with legal training, and eleven former attorneys-general have received senior judicial appointments after their ministerial service.

Billy Hughes was the longest-serving attorney-general of Australia, serving for thirteen and a half years over four non-consecutive terms; this included six years during his own prime ministership.

Historically, the attorney-generalship was seen as a stepping stone to higher office – Alfred Deakin, Billy Hughes, and Robert Menzies all became prime minister, while John Latham, H. V. Evatt, and Billy Snedden were leaders of the opposition. Lionel Bowen was deputy prime minister under Bob Hawke in the 1980s. Additionally, four former attorneys-general have won appointment to the High Court – Isaac Isaacs, H. B. Higgins, John Latham, Garfield Barwick, and Lionel Murphy. Isaacs later became governor-general.

Role and functions

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Role

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The attorney-general is the minister responsible for legal affairs, national and public security. The attorney-general also serves as a general legal adviser to the Cabinet, and has carriage of legislation dealing with copyright, human rights and a range of other subjects. They are responsible for the Australian Law Reform Commission and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

Functions

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Functions of the state and federal attorneys-general include the administration of the selection of persons for nomination to judicial posts and the authorizing of prosecutions. In normal circumstances, the prosecutorial powers of the attorney-general are exercised by the Director of Public Prosecutions and staff; however, the attorney-general maintains formal control—including the power to initiate and terminate public prosecutions and take over private prosecutions.

Statutory criminal law provides that prosecutions for certain offences require the individual consent of the attorney-general. This is generally for offences whose illegality is of a somewhat controversial nature or where there is perceived to be a significant risk that prosecutions of a political nature may be embarked upon. The attorney-general also generally has the power to issue certificates legally conclusive of certain facts (e.g., that the revelation of certain matters in court proceedings might constitute a risk to national security); the facts stated in such certificates must be accepted by the courts and cannot legally be disputed by any parties. The attorney-general also has the power to issue a nolle prosequi with respect to a case, which authoritatively determines that the state (in whose name prosecutions are brought) does not wish to prosecute the case, so preventing any person from doing so.

Relationship with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

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This section is an excerpt from Australian Security Intelligence Organisation § Transfer to Home Affairs.[edit]

In July 2018, then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the creation of the Department of Home Affairs - a new ministry to include the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. This meant the transfer of ASIO away from the Attorney-General's Department, although the Attorney-General would remain responsible for approving ASIO warrants.[5] This move was somewhat criticised, with John Blaxland from the Australian National University warning against tampering with a system that was "arguably the envy of the world", saying "I have yet to see any compelling evidence that what we have is not working, or that there is a compellingly better option out there."[6]

In July 2024, it was reported that ASIO was to be moved back to its original setting within the Attorney-General's Department. Under the new arrangement, the Department of Home Affairs retains responsibility for national security policy, its design and implementation, while operational control of ASIO shifts back to the Attorney-General's Department.[7]

List of attorneys-general

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The following individuals have been appointed as attorney-general for Australia:[8]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Prior legal experience Alma mater Term start Term end Term in office
1 Alfred Deakin KC   Protectionist Barton Barrister University of Melbourne 1 January 1901 (1901-01-01) 24 September 1903 (1903-09-24) 2 years, 266 days
2 Senator James Drake Deakin Barrister King's College School, London 24 September 1903 (1903-09-24) 27 April 1904 (1904-04-27) 216 days
3 H. B. Higgins QC Protectionist1 Watson Barrister University of Melbourne 27 April 1904 (1904-04-27) 17 August 1904 (1904-08-17) 112 days
4 Senator Sir Josiah Symon, KCMG, QC Free Trade Reid Barrister Free Church Training College 17 August 1904 (1904-08-17) 5 July 1905 (1905-07-05) 322 days
5 Isaac Isaacs QC Protectionist Deakin Barrister University of Melbourne 5 July 1905 (1905-07-05) 12 October 1906 (1906-10-12) 1 year, 99 days
6 Littleton Groom KC Lawyer University of Melbourne 12 October 1906 (1906-10-12) 13 November 1908 (1908-11-13) 2 years, 32 days
7 Billy Hughes, KC2 Labor Fisher Barrister n/a 13 November 1908 (1908-11-13) 2 June 1909 (1909-06-02) 201 days
8 Paddy Glynn, KCMG, KC Commonwealth
Liberal 		Deakin Barrister Trinity College Dublin 2 June 1909 (1909-06-02) 29 April 1910 (1910-04-29) 331 days
n/a Billy Hughes KC Labor Fisher Barrister n/a 29 April 1910 (1910-04-29) 24 June 1913 (1913-06-24) 3 years, 56 days
9 William Irvine KC Commonwealth
Liberal 		Cook Barrister Trinity College, Dublin; University of Melbourne 24 June 1913 (1913-06-24) 17 September 1914 (1914-09-17) 1 year, 85 days
n/a Billy Hughes KC Labor Fisher Barrister n/a 17 September 1914 (1914-09-17) 27 October 1915 (1915-10-27) 7 years, 95 days
Hughes 27 October 1915 (1915-10-27) 14 November 1916 (1916-11-14)
National Labor 14 November 1916 (1916-11-14) 13 June 1917 (1917-06-13)
Nationalist 13 June 1917 (1917-06-13) 21 December 1921 (1921-12-21)
n/a Sir Littleton Groom, KCMG, KC Lawyer University of Melbourne 21 December 1921 (1921-12-21) 9 February 1923 (1923-02-09) 3 years, 362 days
Bruce 9 February 1923 (1923-02-09) 18 December 1925 (1925-12-18)
10 John Latham KC Barrister University of Melbourne 18 December 1925 (1925-12-18) 22 October 1929 (1929-10-22) 3 years, 308 days
11 Frank Brennan Labor Scullin Barrister University of Melbourne 22 October 1929 (1929-10-22) 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) 2 years, 76 days
n/a Sir John Latham, GCMG, KC United Australia Lyons Barrister University of Melbourne 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) 2 years, 279 days
12 Robert Menzies KC Barrister University of Melbourne 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) 20 March 1939 (1939-03-20) 4 years, 159 days
n/a Billy Hughes, CH, KC Barrister n/a 20 March 1939 (1939-03-20) 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) 2 years, 201 days
Page 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26)
Menzies 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29)
Fadden 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07)
13 H. V. Evatt KC Labor Curtin Barrister, Judge University of Sydney 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) 8 years, 73 days
Forde 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13)
Chifley 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19)
14 Senator John Spicer KC Liberal Menzies Barrister University of Melbourne 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) 14 August 1956 (1956-08-14) 6 years, 239 days
15 Senator Neil O'Sullivan Solicitor 15 August 1956 (1956-08-15) 12 October 1958 (1958-10-12) 2 years, 58 days
16 Sir Garfield Barwick QC Barrister University of Sydney 12 October 1958 (1958-10-12) 4 March 1964 (1964-03-04) 5 years, 144 days
17 Billy Snedden QC Barrister University of Western Australia 4 March 1964 (1964-03-04) 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) 2 years, 285 days
Holt 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) 14 December 1966 (1966-12-14)
18 Nigel Bowen QC Barrister University of Sydney 14 December 1966 (1966-12-14) 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) 2 years, 333 days
McEwen 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10)
Gorton 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12)
19 Tom Hughes QC Barrister University of Sydney 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) 1 year, 130 days
McMahon 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22)
n/a Nigel Bowen Barrister University of Sydney 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) 2 August 1971 (1971-08-02) 133 days
20 Senator Ivor Greenwood QC Barrister University of Melbourne 2 August 1971 (1971-08-02) 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) 1 year, 125 days
21 Gough Whitlam QC3 Labor Whitlam Barrister University of Sydney 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) 14 days
22 Senator Lionel Murphy QC Barrister University of Sydney 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) 10 February 1975 (1975-02-10) 2 years, 53 days
23 Kep Enderby QC Barrister University of Sydney
University of London 		10 February 1975 (1975-02-10) 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) 274 days
n/a Senator Ivor Greenwood QC Liberal Fraser Barrister University of Melbourne 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) 41 days
24 Bob Ellicott QC Barrister University of Sydney 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) 6 September 1977 (1977-09-06) 1 year, 258 days
25 Senator Peter Durack QC Barrister University of Western Australia
Lincoln College, Oxford 		6 September 1977 (1977-09-06) 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) 5 years, 186 days
26 Senator Gareth Evans QC Labor Hawke Barrister University of Melbourne
Magdalen College, Oxford 		11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) 13 December 1984 (1984-12-13) 1 year, 277 days
27 Lionel Bowen Solicitor University of Sydney 13 December 1984 (1984-12-13) 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 5 years, 112 days
28 Michael Duffy, ONZ Solicitor University of Melbourne 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) 2 years, 354 days
Keating 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
29 Duncan Kerr4 Labor Keating Barrister University of Tasmania 1 April 1993 (1993-04-01) 27 April 1993 (1993-04-27) 26 days
30 Michael Lavarch Solicitor Queensland University of Technology 27 April 1993 (1993-04-27) 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 2 years, 319 days
31 Daryl Williams, AM, QC Liberal Howard Barrister University of Western Australia
Wadham College, Oxford 		11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) 7 years, 210 days
32 Philip Ruddock Solicitor University of Sydney 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 4 years, 57 days
33 Robert McClelland Labor Rudd Solicitor University of New South Wales
University of Sydney 		3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) 4 years, 11 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)
34 Nicola Roxon Solicitor University of Melbourne 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) 2 February 2013 (2013-02-02) 1 year, 50 days
35 Mark Dreyfus QC Barrister University of Melbourne 2 February 2013 (2013-02-02) 26 June 2013 (2013-06-26) 228 days
Rudd 26 June 2013 (2013-06-26) 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
36 Senator George Brandis QC Liberal Abbott Barrister University of Queensland; Magdalen College, Oxford 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 4 years, 93 days
Turnbull 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)
37 Christian Porter Lawyer University of Western Australia, London School of Economics 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) 3 years, 100 days
Morrison 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) 30 March 2021 (2021-03-30)
38 Senator Michaelia Cash Solicitor Curtin University; University of London; University of Western Australia 30 March 2021 (2021-03-30) 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) 1 year, 54 days
n/a Senator Katy Gallagher 5 Labor Albanese n/a Australian National University 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) 9 days
39 Mark Dreyfus KC Barrister University of Melbourne 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) Incumbent 2 years, 158 days

Notes

1 A member of the Protectionist Party, Higgins served in the Labor ministry of Chris Watson, because Labor had no suitably qualified lawyer in Parliament.
2 Hughes took silk in 1909, and became a King's Counsel.[9]
3 Whitlam served as part of a two-man ministry together with Lance Barnard for fourteen days, until the full ministry was commissioned.
4 Prime Minister Paul Keating's original choice for Attorney-General in 1993 had been Michael Lavarch, but Lavarch's re-election was delayed by the death of an opposing candidate for the seat of Dickson; Duncan Kerr held the portfolio in the interim until Lavarch won the resulting supplementary election. Kerr served as Attorney-General for 26 days. There was no Attorney-General for the eight days between Duffy's commission ending on 24 March 1993 and Kerr's commission commencing on 1 April 1993.
5 Gallagher served as part of an interim five-person ministry for nine days, until the full ministry was commissioned.

Former ministerial titles

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List of ministers for justice

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This section is an excerpt from Minister for Justice (Australia) § List of former ministers for justice.[edit]

The following individuals were appointed as Minister for Justice, or any of its precedent titles:[10]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Michael Tate   Labor Hawke Minister for Justice 18 September 1987 (1987-09-18) 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 5 years, 187 days
Minister for Justice and Consumer Affairs 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20)
Keating 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 27 May 1992 (1992-05-27)
Minister for Justice 27 May 1992 (1992-05-27) 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
2 Duncan Kerr 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 2 years, 353 days
3 Daryl Williams Liberal Howard 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) 1 year, 212 days
4 Amanda Vanstone 9 October 1997 21 October 1998 3 years, 113 days
Minister for Justice and Customs 21 October 1998 30 January 2001
5 Chris Ellison 30 January 2001 9 March 2007 6 years, 38 days
6 David Johnston 9 March 2007 (2007-03-09) 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 269 days
7 Brendan O'Connor Labor Gillard Minister for Justice 14 September 2010 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) 1 year, 91 days
8 Jason Clare 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) 1 year, 278 days
Rudd 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
9 Michael Keenan Liberal Abbott 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 4 years, 93 days
Turnbull 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)
For subsequent appointments, see the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity

Parliamentary secretaries

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While previously there existed informal titles for junior ministers, since 1980 they have been officially designated parliamentary-secretaries.[11] They have also been titled assistant minister and minister assisting. Parliamentary-secretaries to the attorney-general are listed below.

In 2022, Matt Thistlethwaite was titled the Assistant Minister for the Republic and was tasked with promoting the Albanese government's policy of establishing of a republic.[12][13] However, he was also formally the Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General.[14]

Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
Neil Brown Liberal Fraser Minister assisting the Attorney-General 7 May 1982 11 March 1983
Peter Duncan Labor Keating Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General 27 December 1991 11 March 1996
Chris Ellison Liberal Howard Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General 13 February 1997 18 July 1997
Minister assisting the Attorney-General 18 July 1997 9 October 1997
Shayne Neumann Labor Gillard Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General 25 March 2013 18 September 2013
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Liberal Abbott Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General 28 May 2015 21 September 2015 116 days
Amanda Stoker Morrison Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General 22 December 2020 23 May 2022 1 year, 152 days
Matt Thistlethwaite   Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for the Republic 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) 2 years, 58 days
Patrick Gorman Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) incumbent 100 days

Attorneys-general of the states and territories

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The Australian states each have separate attorneys-general, who are state ministers with similar responsibilities to the federal minister with respect to state law. For attorneys-general of the various states and territories of Australia, see:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2018 Parliamentary remuneration and business resources: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Communique: Meeting of Attorneys-General" (PDF). Attorney-General's Department. 12 August 2022.
  3. ^ Worthington, Brett (31 May 2022). "Meet the new cabinet: Who's who in Albanese's new ministry". ABC News. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  4. ^ Elder, DR; Fowler, PE, eds. (June 2018). "Chapter 2: The Ministry". House of Representatives Practice (7th ed.). Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 978-1-74366-656-2. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Dutton gets sweeping national security powers as head of new super-ministry". ABC News. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Creating Australian Home Office carries risks, security expert warns". ABC News. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  7. ^ Middleton, Karen (2 August 2024). "Albanese's move to split Asio across two portfolios has laid security and political tensions bare". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  9. ^ "William Morris Hughes: Before office". Australia's Prime Ministers. National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  11. ^ Elder, D. R.; Fowler, P. E. (2018). "The Ministry". House of Representatives Practice (7th ed.). Department of the House of Representatives. ISBN 978-1-74366-656-2.
  12. ^ Crellin, Zac (2 June 2022). "Here's what's on the agenda for Australia's first-ever Assistant Minister for the Republic". The New Daily. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Ministry List as at 1 June 2022" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Ministers of State (Notification of Appointment and Direction) Instrument 2024". Federal Register of Legislation. 15 August 2024.
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