The Attorney-General's Department, also known as the Department of the Attorney-General, is the law enforcement and justice department of the Australian Government. The department is responsible for improving Australia's federal law and judicial framework and provides legal advice and services to the Australian Government. The department also oversees various statutory authorities and child agencies including the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The head of the department is Attorney-General for Australia, currently Michelle Rowland, 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 Justice and Communities National Security and Criminal Justice Integrity and International 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:
Order Official Official title Date appointmentcommenced Date appointmentceased Term in office Ref(s)1 Sir Robert Garran Secretary of theAttorney‑General's Department 2 Sir George Knowles 3 Sir Kenneth Bailey 4 Ted Hook 5 Sir Clarrie Harders 1970July 1979 9 years 6 Alan Neaves July 1979March 1983 4 years7 Pat Brazil 1989 6 years 8 Alan Rose 1989 5 years 9 Stephen Skehill 19984 years 10 Tony Blunn 1998 2 years 11 Robert Cornall 12 Roger Wilkins 13 Chris Moraitis 14Katherine Jones incumbent
Mission and outcomes
The mission of the department is to "deliver programs and policies to maintain and improve Australia's law and justice framework" and to provide legal services to the Australian Government.
Operational functions In an Administrative Arrangements Order made on 13 May 2025, the functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters:
Law and justice, including - Administrative law Alternative dispute resolution Constitutional law Courts and tribunals Human rights International law Law reform Legal assistance Legislative drafting Marriage and family law Legal services to the Commonwealth 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 co-operation, including extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters Identity and biometrics 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 Modern Slavery
See also
Attorney-General's Department (South Australia) National Council for Fire & Emergency Services List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
References