Attorney-General's Department (Australia)

Attorney-General's Department (Australia)
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. The department oversees various agencies including the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the national Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
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 .
History
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.
Organisation
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.
Departmental Secretary
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:
Mission and outcomes
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".
Operational functions
The Administrative Arrangements Order made on 01 June 2022 details the following responsibilities to the Department:
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
See also
Attorney-General's Department (South Australia)
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
References
Government departments of Australia
Ministries established in 1901
Justice ministries
Government agencies established in 1901
Legal organisations based in Australia
Attorneys-General of Australia