Attorney - General for Australia - Wikipedia Attorney - General for Australia Attorney - General Incumbent Christian Porter MP since 20 December 2017 ( 2017 - 12 - 20 ) Attorney - General 's Department Style The Honourable Appointer Governor - General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia Inaugural holder Alfred Deakin Formation 1 January 1901 ( 1901 - 01 - 01 ) Australia This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Australia Constitution Constitution of Australia Statute of Westminster Adoption Act Australia Act The Crown Monarch : Elizabeth II Governor - General : Sir Peter Cosgrove Executive Prime Minister : Malcolm Turnbull Deputy Prime Minister : Barnaby Joyce Federal Executive Council Ministry Current ( 71st ) Cabinet Legislature Parliament Senate President : Scott Ryan House of Representatives Speaker : Tony Smith Opposition Leader : Bill Shorten Shadow Ministry Judiciary High Court Lower Courts Laws of Australia Elections Federal electoral system Electoral divisions Political parties Recent elections Federal : 2016 2013 Federal by - elections Referendums States and territories Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Parliaments and Assemblies State courts State electoral systems Local government NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas NT Related topics Regions Foreign relations Defence Force Public holidays Republicanism Other countries Atlas The Attorney - General for Australia is the First Law Officer of the Crown in right of the Commonwealth of Australia, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney - General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but need not be. Under the Constitution they are appointed by the Governor - General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and serves at the Governor - General 's pleasure. In practice the Attorney - General is a party politician and their tenure is determined by political factors. By convention, but not constitutional requirement, the Attorney - General is a lawyer by training, either a barrister or solicitor. Since 20 December 2017, the Attorney - General for Australia has been the Hon Christian Porter MP, a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives for the state of Western Australia. Contents 1 Role 2 List of Attorneys - General 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links Role The Attorney - General administers the Attorney - General 's Department, and is the minister responsible for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation ( ASIO ). 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. 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. List of Attorneys - General The following individuals have been appointed as Attorney - General for Australia : Order Minister Party Prime Minister Prior legal experience Alma mater Term start Term end Term in office 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 Senator James Drake Deakin Barrister King 's College School, London 24 September 1903 ( 1903 - 09 - 24 ) 27 April 1904 ( 1904 - 04 - 27 ) 216 days H.B. Higgins QC Protectionist Watson Barrister University of Melbourne 27 April 1904 ( 1904 - 04 - 27 ) 17 August 1904 ( 1904 - 08 - 17 ) 112 days Senator Josiah Symon 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 Labor Fisher Barrister n / a 13 November 1908 ( 1908 - 11 - 13 ) 2 June 1909 ( 1909 - 06 - 02 ) 201 days 8 Paddy Glynn 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 Littleton Groom 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 John Latham 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 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 Dr. 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 QC 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 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 Kerr 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 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 National 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 Liberal Lawyer University of Western Australia, London School of Economics 20 December 2017 ( 2017 - 12 - 20 ) Incumbent 70 days Notes A member of the Protectionist Party, Higgins served in the Labor ministry of Chris Watson, because Labor had no suitably qualified lawyer in Parliament. Hughes took silk in 1909, and became a King 's Counsel. Whitlam served as part of a two - man ministry together with Lance Barnard for fourteen days, until the full ministry was commissioned. 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. See also Attorneys - General of the various states and territories of Australia : Attorney - General of the Australian Capital Territory Attorney - General of New South Wales Attorney - General of the Northern Territory Attorney - General of Queensland Attorney - General of South Australia Attorney - General of Tasmania Attorney - General of Victoria Attorney - General of Western Australia Notes Jump up ^ The title is officially `` Attorney - General ''. For the purposes of distinguishing the office from other Attorneys - General, and in accordance with usual practice in the United Kingdom and other common law jurisdictions, the Australian Attorney - General currently refers to themselves as the `` Attorney - General for Australia '' or the `` Commonwealth Attorney - General '' : see Attorney - General website. Historically, `` Attorney - General of Australia '' was also used. References Jump up ^ `` 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. Jump up ^ `` William Morris Hughes : Before office ''. Australia 's Prime Ministers. National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2013. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Attorneys General of Australia. 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Question: who is the current attorney general of australia
Answer: Christian Porter