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Attorney-General of Australia

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox official post

The attorney-general of Australia (AG), also known as the Commonwealth attorney-general,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 Michelle Rowland, who was chosen by prime minister Anthony Albanese in May 2025 following the 2025 federal election.<ref name="gallagherag">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

HistoryEdit

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 functionsEdit

RoleEdit

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.

FunctionsEdit

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 OrganisationEdit

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List of attorneys-generalEdit

The following individuals have been appointed as attorney-general for Australia:<ref name=parl>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Prior legal experience Alma mater Term start Term end Term in office
1 Alfred Deakin Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style|  Protectionist Barton Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:Start date Template:Age in years and days
2 Senator James Drake Template:Australian party style| Deakin Barrister King's College School, London Template:Start date Template:Start date Template:Age in days days
3 H. B. Higgins Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Protectionist{{#if:1|1|[1]}} Watson Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:Start date Template:Age in days days
4 Senator Sir Josiah Symon, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Free Trade Reid Barrister Free Church Training College Template:Start date Template:Start date Template:Age in days days
5 Isaac Isaacs Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Protectionist Deakin Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:Start date Template:Age in years and days
6 Littleton Groom Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Lawyer University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:Start date Template:Age in years and days
7 Billy Hughes, Template:Postnominals{{#if:2|2|[2]}} Template:Australian party style| Labor Fisher Barrister n/a Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
8 Paddy Glynn, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Commonwealth
Liberal 		Deakin Barrister Trinity College Dublin Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
n/a Billy Hughes Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Labor Fisher Barrister n/a Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
9 William Irvine Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Commonwealth
Liberal 		Cook Barrister Trinity College, Dublin; University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
n/a Billy Hughes Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Labor Fisher Barrister n/a Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Hughes Template:Start date Template:End date
Template:Australian party style| National Labor Template:Start date Template:End date
Template:Australian party style| Nationalist Template:Start date Template:End date
n/a Sir Littleton Groom, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Lawyer University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Bruce Template:Start date Template:End date
10 John Latham Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
11 Frank Brennan Template:Australian party style| Labor Scullin Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
n/a Sir John Latham, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| United Australia Lyons Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
12 Robert Menzies Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
n/a Billy Hughes, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister n/a Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Page Template:Start date Template:End date
Template:Australian party style| Menzies Template:Start date Template:End date
Template:Australian party style| Fadden Template:Start date Template:End date
13 H. V. Evatt Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Labor Curtin Barrister, Judge University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Forde Template:Start date Template:End date
Template:Australian party style| Chifley Template:Start date Template:End date
14 Senator John Spicer Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Liberal Menzies Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
15 Senator Neil O'Sullivan Template:Australian party style| Solicitor Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
16 Sir Garfield Barwick Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
17 Billy Snedden Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Western Australia Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Holt Template:Start date Template:End date
18 Nigel Bowen Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| McEwen Template:Start date Template:End date
Template:Australian party style| Gorton Template:Start date Template:End date
19 Tom Hughes Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| McMahon Template:Start date Template:End date
n/a Nigel Bowen Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
20 Senator Ivor Greenwood Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
21 Gough Whitlam Template:Post-nominals{{#if:3|3|[3]}} Template:Australian party style| Labor Whitlam Barrister University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
22 Senator Lionel Murphy Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
23 Kep Enderby Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney
University of London 		Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
n/a Senator Ivor Greenwood Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Liberal Fraser Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
24 Bob Ellicott Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
25 Senator Peter Durack Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Western Australia
Lincoln College, Oxford 		Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
26 Senator Gareth Evans Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Labor Hawke Barrister University of Melbourne
Magdalen College, Oxford 		Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
27 Lionel Bowen Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
28 Michael Duffy, Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Keating Template:Start date Template:End date
29 Duncan Kerr{{#if:4|4|[4]}} Template:Australian party style| Labor Keating Barrister University of Tasmania Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
30 Michael Lavarch Template:Australian party style| Solicitor Queensland University of Technology Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
31 Daryl Williams, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Liberal Howard Barrister University of Western Australia
Wadham College, Oxford 		Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
32 Philip Ruddock Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Sydney Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
33 Robert McClelland Template:Australian party style| Labor Rudd Solicitor University of New South Wales
University of Sydney 		Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Gillard Template:Start date Template:End date
34 Nicola Roxon Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
35 Mark Dreyfus Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in days days
Template:Australian party style| Rudd Template:Start date Template:End date
36 Senator George Brandis Template:Post-nominals rowspan="5" Template:Australian party style | Liberal Abbott Barrister University of Queensland; Magdalen College, Oxford Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Turnbull Template:Start date Template:End date
37 Christian Porter Lawyer University of Western Australia, London School of Economics Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Morrison Template:Start date Template:End date
38 Senator Michaelia Cash Solicitor Curtin University; University of London; University of Western Australia Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
n/a Senator Katy Gallagher {{#if:5|5|[5]}} rowspan=3 Template:Australian party style | Labor Albanese n/a Australian National University Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
39 Mark Dreyfus Template:Post-nominals Barrister University of Melbourne Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
40 Michelle Rowland Lawyer University of Sydney Template:Start date Incumbent Template:Age in years and days

Notes

{{#if:1|1|[6]}} A member of the Protectionist Party, Higgins served in the Labor ministry of Chris Watson, because Labor had no suitably qualified lawyer in Parliament.
{{#if:2|2|[7]}} Hughes took silk in 1909, and became a King's Counsel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

{{#if:3|3|[8]}} Whitlam served as part of a two-man ministry together with Lance Barnard for fourteen days, until the full ministry was commissioned.
{{#if:4|4|[9]}} 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.
{{#if:5|5|[10]}} Gallagher served as part of an interim five-person ministry for nine days, until the full ministry was commissioned.

Former ministerial titlesEdit

List of ministers for justiceEdit

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Parliamentary secretariesEdit

While previously there existed informal titles for junior ministers, since 1980 they have been officially designated parliamentary-secretaries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ministry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, he was also formally the Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
Neil Brown Template:Australian party style | Liberal Fraser Minister assisting the Attorney-General 7 May 1982 11 March 1983
Peter Duncan Template:Australian party style | Labor Keating Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General 27 December 1991 11 March 1996
Chris Ellison rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style | 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 Template:Australian party style | Labor Gillard Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General 25 March 2013 18 September 2013
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style | Liberal Abbott Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General 28 May 2015 21 September 2015 Template:Age in years and days
Amanda Stoker Morrison Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General 22 December 2020 23 May 2022 Template:Age in years and days
Matt Thistlethwaite rowspan="2" Template:Australian party style |  Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for the Republic Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days
Patrick Gorman Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General Template:Start date Template:End date Template:Age in years and days

Attorneys-general of the states and territoriesEdit

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 alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

Template:Sister project Template:Australian Attorneys-General Template:Australian federal ministerial portfolios

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