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Attorney-General of Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Minister and chief law officer of Australia

Attorney-General of Australia
since 13 May 2025
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 theadvice of the prime minister
Term lengthAt the Governor-General's pleasure
Formation1 January 1901
First holderAlfred Deakin
Salary$336,599.25[1]
Websiteministers.ag.gov.au/hon-michelle-rowland-mp

Theattorney-general of Australia (AG), also known as theCommonwealth attorney-general,[2] is theminister of state andchief law officer of theCommonwealth of Australia charged with overseeing federallegal affairs and public security as the head of theAttorney-General’s Department. The current attorney-general isMichelle Rowland, who was chosen by prime ministerAnthony Albanese in May 2025 following the2025 federal election.[3] By convention, the attorney-general is alawyer.

The attorney-general is one of only four positions in theCommonwealth Government to have continuously been held since federation, along with the prime minister, theminister for defence and thetreasurer.[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, andRobert Menzies all became prime minister, whileJohn Latham,H. V. Evatt, andBilly Snedden wereleaders of the opposition.Lionel Bowen wasdeputy prime minister underBob Hawke in the 1980s. Additionally, four former attorneys-general have won appointment to theHigh CourtIsaac Isaacs,H. B. Higgins, John Latham,Garfield Barwick, andLionel Murphy. Isaacs later becamegovernor-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 theAustralian Law Reform Commission and theAustralian 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 theDirector 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 anolle 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 fromAustralian Security Intelligence Organisation § Transfer to Home Affairs.[edit]

In July 2018, then-Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull announced the creation of theDepartment of Home Affairs - a new ministry to include theAustralian Federal Police, theAustralian Border Force, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. This meant the transfer of ASIO away from theAttorney-General's Department, although the Attorney-General would remain responsible for approving ASIO warrants.[5] This move was somewhat criticised, with John Blaxland from theAustralian 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 theAttorney-General's Department. Under the new arrangement, theDepartment of Home Affairs retains responsibility for national security policy, its design and implementation, while operational control of ASIO shifts back to theAttorney-General's Department.[7]

List of attorneys-general

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

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterPrior legal experienceAlma materTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1Alfred DeakinKC ProtectionistBartonBarristerUniversity of Melbourne1 January 1901 (1901-01-01)24 September 1903 (1903-09-24)2 years, 266 days
2SenatorJames DrakeDeakinBarristerKing's College School,London24 September 1903 (1903-09-24)27 April 1904 (1904-04-27)216 days
3H. B. HigginsQCProtectionist1WatsonBarristerUniversity of Melbourne27 April 1904 (1904-04-27)17 August 1904 (1904-08-17)112 days
4SenatorSir Josiah Symon,KCMG,QCFree TradeReidBarristerFree Church Training College17 August 1904 (1904-08-17)5 July 1905 (1905-07-05)322 days
5Isaac IsaacsQCProtectionistDeakinBarristerUniversity of Melbourne5 July 1905 (1905-07-05)12 October 1906 (1906-10-12)1 year, 99 days
6Littleton GroomKCLawyerUniversity of Melbourne12 October 1906 (1906-10-12)13 November 1908 (1908-11-13)2 years, 32 days
7Billy Hughes,KC2LaborFisherBarristern/a13 November 1908 (1908-11-13)2 June 1909 (1909-06-02)201 days
8Paddy Glynn,KCMG,KCCommonwealth
Liberal
DeakinBarristerTrinity College Dublin2 June 1909 (1909-06-02)29 April 1910 (1910-04-29)331 days
n/aBilly HughesKCLaborFisherBarristern/a29 April 1910 (1910-04-29)24 June 1913 (1913-06-24)3 years, 56 days
9William IrvineKCCommonwealth
Liberal
CookBarristerTrinity College, Dublin; University of Melbourne24 June 1913 (1913-06-24)17 September 1914 (1914-09-17)1 year, 85 days
n/aBilly HughesKCLaborFisherBarristern/a17 September 1914 (1914-09-17)27 October 1915 (1915-10-27)7 years, 95 days
Hughes27 October 1915 (1915-10-27)14 November 1916 (1916-11-14)
National Labor14 November 1916 (1916-11-14)13 June 1917 (1917-06-13)
Nationalist13 June 1917 (1917-06-13)21 December 1921 (1921-12-21)
n/aSir Littleton Groom,KCMG,KCLawyerUniversity of Melbourne21 December 1921 (1921-12-21)9 February 1923 (1923-02-09)3 years, 362 days
Bruce9 February 1923 (1923-02-09)18 December 1925 (1925-12-18)
10John LathamKCBarristerUniversity of Melbourne18 December 1925 (1925-12-18)22 October 1929 (1929-10-22)3 years, 308 days
11Frank BrennanLaborScullinBarristerUniversity of Melbourne22 October 1929 (1929-10-22)6 January 1932 (1932-01-06)2 years, 76 days
n/aSir John Latham,GCMG,KCUnited AustraliaLyonsBarristerUniversity of Melbourne6 January 1932 (1932-01-06)12 October 1934 (1934-10-12)2 years, 279 days
12Robert MenziesKCBarristerUniversity of Melbourne12 October 1934 (1934-10-12)20 March 1939 (1939-03-20)4 years, 159 days
n/aBilly Hughes,CH,KCBarristern/a20 March 1939 (1939-03-20)7 April 1939 (1939-04-07)2 years, 201 days
Page7 April 1939 (1939-04-07)26 April 1939 (1939-04-26)
Menzies26 April 1939 (1939-04-26)29 August 1941 (1941-08-29)
Fadden29 August 1941 (1941-08-29)7 October 1941 (1941-10-07)
13H. V. EvattKCLaborCurtinBarrister, JudgeUniversity of Sydney7 October 1941 (1941-10-07)6 July 1945 (1945-07-06)8 years, 73 days
Forde6 July 1945 (1945-07-06)13 July 1945 (1945-07-13)
Chifley13 July 1945 (1945-07-13)19 December 1949 (1949-12-19)
14SenatorJohn SpicerKCLiberalMenziesBarristerUniversity of Melbourne19 December 1949 (1949-12-19)14 August 1956 (1956-08-14)6 years, 239 days
15SenatorNeil O'SullivanSolicitor15 August 1956 (1956-08-15)12 October 1958 (1958-10-12)2 years, 58 days
16SirGarfield BarwickQCBarristerUniversity of Sydney12 October 1958 (1958-10-12)4 March 1964 (1964-03-04)5 years, 144 days
17Billy SneddenQCBarristerUniversity of Western Australia4 March 1964 (1964-03-04)26 January 1966 (1966-01-26)2 years, 285 days
Holt26 January 1966 (1966-01-26)14 December 1966 (1966-12-14)
18Nigel BowenQCBarristerUniversity of Sydney14 December 1966 (1966-12-14)19 December 1967 (1967-12-19)2 years, 333 days
McEwen19 December 1967 (1967-12-19)10 January 1968 (1968-01-10)
Gorton10 January 1968 (1968-01-10)12 November 1969 (1969-11-12)
19Tom HughesQCBarristerUniversity of Sydney12 November 1969 (1969-11-12)10 March 1971 (1971-03-10)1 year, 130 days
McMahon10 March 1971 (1971-03-10)22 March 1971 (1971-03-22)
n/aNigel BowenBarristerUniversity of Sydney22 March 1971 (1971-03-22)2 August 1971 (1971-08-02)133 days
20SenatorIvor GreenwoodQCBarristerUniversity of Melbourne2 August 1971 (1971-08-02)5 December 1972 (1972-12-05)1 year, 125 days
21Gough WhitlamQC3LaborWhitlamBarristerUniversity of Sydney5 December 1972 (1972-12-05)19 December 1972 (1972-12-19)14 days
22SenatorLionel MurphyQCBarristerUniversity of Sydney19 December 1972 (1972-12-19)10 February 1975 (1975-02-10)2 years, 53 days
23Kep EnderbyQCBarristerUniversity of Sydney
University of London
10 February 1975 (1975-02-10)11 November 1975 (1975-11-11)274 days
n/aSenator Ivor GreenwoodQCLiberalFraserBarristerUniversity of Melbourne11 November 1975 (1975-11-11)22 December 1975 (1975-12-22)41 days
24Bob EllicottQCBarristerUniversity of Sydney22 December 1975 (1975-12-22)6 September 1977 (1977-09-06)1 year, 258 days
25SenatorPeter DurackQCBarristerUniversity of Western Australia
Lincoln College, Oxford
6 September 1977 (1977-09-06)11 March 1983 (1983-03-11)5 years, 186 days
26SenatorGareth EvansQCLaborHawkeBarristerUniversity of Melbourne
Magdalen College, Oxford
11 March 1983 (1983-03-11)13 December 1984 (1984-12-13)1 year, 277 days
27Lionel BowenSolicitorUniversity of Sydney13 December 1984 (1984-12-13)4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)5 years, 112 days
28Michael Duffy,ONZSolicitorUniversity of Melbourne4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)2 years, 354 days
Keating27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
29Duncan Kerr4LaborKeatingBarristerUniversity of Tasmania1 April 1993 (1993-04-01)27 April 1993 (1993-04-27)26 days
30Michael LavarchSolicitorQueensland University of Technology27 April 1993 (1993-04-27)11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)2 years, 319 days
31Daryl Williams,AM,QCLiberalHowardBarristerUniversity of Western Australia
Wadham College, Oxford
11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)7 years, 210 days
32Philip RuddockSolicitorUniversity of Sydney7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)4 years, 57 days
33Robert McClellandLaborRuddSolicitorUniversity of New South Wales
University of Sydney
3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)4 years, 11 days
Gillard24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)
34Nicola RoxonSolicitorUniversity of Melbourne14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)2 February 2013 (2013-02-02)1 year, 50 days
35Mark DreyfusQCBarristerUniversity of Melbourne2 February 2013 (2013-02-02)26 June 2013 (2013-06-26)228 days
Rudd26 June 2013 (2013-06-26)18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
36SenatorGeorge BrandisQCLiberalAbbottBarristerUniversity of Queensland; Magdalen College, Oxford18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)4 years, 93 days
Turnbull15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)
37Christian PorterLawyerUniversity of Western Australia, London School of Economics20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)28 August 2018 (2018-08-28)3 years, 100 days
Morrison28 August 2018 (2018-08-28)30 March 2021 (2021-03-30)
38SenatorMichaelia CashSolicitorCurtin University; University of London; University of Western Australia30 March 2021 (2021-03-30)23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)1 year, 54 days
n/aSenatorKaty Gallagher5LaborAlbanesen/aAustralian National University23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)9 days
39Mark DreyfusKCBarristerUniversity of Melbourne1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)2 years, 346 days
40Michelle RowlandLawyerUniversity of Sydney13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)Incumbent50 days

Notes

1 A member of theProtectionist Party, Higgins served in the Labor ministry ofChris Watson, because Labor had no suitably qualified lawyer in Parliament.
2 Hughes took silk in 1909, and became aKing's Counsel.[9]
3 Whitlam served as part of atwo-man ministry together withLance Barnard for fourteen days, until the full ministry was commissioned.
4 Prime Minister Paul Keating's original choice for Attorney-General in 1993 had beenMichael Lavarch, but Lavarch's re-election was delayed by the death of an opposing candidate for the seat ofDickson;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 ofan 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 fromMinister 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]

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTitleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1Kep Enderby LaborWhitlamMinister for Police andCustoms27 March 1975 (1975-03-27)6 June 1975 (1975-06-06)71 days
2Jim Cavanagh6 June 1975 (1975-06-06)11 November 1975 (1975-11-11)158 days
3Ivor Greenwood LiberalFraser11 November 1975 (1975-11-11)22 December 1975 (1975-12-22)41 days
4Michael Tate LaborHawkeMinister for Justice18 September 1987 (1987-09-18)4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)5 years, 187 days
Minister for Justice andConsumer Affairs4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)20 December 1991 (1991-12-20)
Keating20 December 1991 (1991-12-20)27 May 1992 (1992-05-27)
Minister for Justice27 May 1992 (1992-05-27)24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
5Duncan Kerr24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)2 years, 353 days
6Daryl WilliamsLiberalHoward11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)9 October 1997 (1997-10-09)1 year, 212 days
7Amanda Vanstone9 October 199721 October 19983 years, 113 days
Minister for Justice andCustoms21 October 199830 January 2001
8Chris Ellison30 January 20019 March 20076 years, 38 days
9David Johnston9 March 2007 (2007-03-09)3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)269 days
10Brendan O'ConnorLaborGillardMinister for Justice14 September 201014 December 2011 (2011-12-14)1 year, 91 days
11Jason Clare14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)1 year, 278 days
Rudd1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
12Michael KeenanLiberalAbbott18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)4 years, 93 days
Turnbull15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)
For subsequent appointments, see theMinister 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 designatedparliamentary-secretaries.[11] They have also been titledassistant minister andminister assisting. Parliamentary-secretaries to the attorney-general are listed below.

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

MinisterPartyPrime MinisterTitleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
Neil BrownLiberalFraserMinister assisting the Attorney-General7 May 198211 March 1983
Peter DuncanLaborKeatingParliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General27 December 199111 March 1996
Chris EllisonLiberalHowardParliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General13 February 199718 July 1997
Minister assisting the Attorney-General18 July 19979 October 1997
Shayne NeumannLaborGillardParliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General25 March 201318 September 2013
Concetta Fierravanti-WellsLiberalAbbottParliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General28 May 201521 September 2015116 days
Amanda StokerMorrisonAssistant Minister to the Attorney-General22 December 202023 May 20221 year, 152 days
Matt Thistlethwaite LaborAlbaneseAssistant Minister for the Republic1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)29 July 2024 (2024-07-29)2 years, 58 days
Patrick GormanAssistant Minister to the Attorney-General29 July 2024 (2024-07-29)13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)288 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 variousstates and territories of Australia, see:

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^"2018 Parliamentary remuneration and business resources: a quick guide".Parliament of Australia. 6 September 2018. Retrieved15 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. Retrieved31 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. Retrieved19 October 2019.
  5. ^"Dutton gets sweeping national security powers as head of new super-ministry".ABC News. 18 July 2017. Retrieved5 August 2024.
  6. ^"Creating Australian Home Office carries risks, security expert warns".ABC News. 17 July 2017. Retrieved5 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. Retrieved5 August 2024.
  8. ^"Ministries and Cabinets".43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament.Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived fromthe original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved9 July 2013.
  9. ^"William Morris Hughes: Before office".Australia's Prime Ministers.National Archives of Australia. Retrieved15 July 2013.
  10. ^"Ministries and Cabinets".43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament.Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived fromthe original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved9 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. Retrieved4 June 2022.
  13. ^"Ministry List as at 1 June 2022"(PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved4 June 2022.
  14. ^"Ministers of State (Notification of Appointment and Direction) Instrument 2024".Federal Register of Legislation. 15 August 2024.

External links

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