Attorney-General of Australia

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The attorney-general of Australia (AG), also known as the Commonwealth Attorney-General,[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

History

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 functions

Role

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.

Functions

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 Organisation

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List of attorneys-general

The following individuals have been appointed as attorney-general for Australia:[4]

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 Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
2 Senator James Drake Template:Australian party style| Deakin Barrister King's College School, London Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
3 H. B. Higgins Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Protectionist1 Watson Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
4 Senator Sir Josiah Symon, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Free Trade Reid Barrister Free Church Training College Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
5 Isaac Isaacs Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Protectionist Deakin Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
6 Littleton Groom Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Lawyer University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
7 Billy Hughes, Template:Postnominals2 Template:Australian party style| Labor Fisher Barrister n/a Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
8 Paddy Glynn, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Commonwealth
Liberal 		Deakin Barrister Trinity College Dublin Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
n/a Billy Hughes Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Labor Fisher Barrister n/a Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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 Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
n/a Billy Hughes Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Labor Fisher Barrister n/a Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Hughes Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Australian party style| National Labor Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Australian party style| Nationalist Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
n/a Sir Littleton Groom, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Lawyer University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Bruce Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10 John Latham Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
11 Frank Brennan Template:Australian party style| Labor Scullin Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
n/a Sir John Latham, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| United Australia Lyons Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
12 Robert Menzies Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
n/a Billy Hughes, Template:Postnominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister n/a Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Page Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Australian party style| Menzies Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Australian party style| Fadden Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
13 H. V. Evatt Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Labor Curtin Barrister, Judge University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Forde Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Australian party style| Chifley Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 Senator John Spicer Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Liberal Menzies Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
15 Senator Neil O'Sullivan Template:Australian party style| Solicitor Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
16 Sir Garfield Barwick Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
17 Billy Snedden Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Western Australia Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Holt Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
18 Nigel Bowen Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| McEwen Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Australian party style| Gorton Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
19 Tom Hughes Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| McMahon Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
n/a Nigel Bowen Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
20 Senator Ivor Greenwood Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
21 Gough Whitlam Template:Post-nominals3 Template:Australian party style| Labor Whitlam Barrister University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
22 Senator Lionel Murphy Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
23 Kep Enderby Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney
University of London 		Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
n/a Senator Ivor Greenwood Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Liberal Fraser Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
24 Bob Ellicott Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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 		Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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 		Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
27 Lionel Bowen Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
28 Michael Duffy, Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Keating Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
29 Duncan Kerr4 Template:Australian party style| Labor Keating Barrister University of Tasmania Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
30 Michael Lavarch Template:Australian party style| Solicitor Queensland University of Technology Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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 		Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
32 Philip Ruddock Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
33 Robert McClelland Template:Australian party style| Labor Rudd Solicitor University of New South Wales
University of Sydney 		Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Template:Australian party style| Gillard Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
34 Nicola Roxon Template:Australian party style| Solicitor University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
35 Mark Dreyfus Template:Post-nominals Template:Australian party style| Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "age". days
Template:Australian party style| Rudd Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
36 Senator George Brandis Template:Post-nominals rowspan="5" Template:Australian party style | Liberal Abbott Barrister University of Queensland; Magdalen College, Oxford Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Turnbull Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
37 Christian Porter Lawyer University of Western Australia, London School of Economics Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Morrison Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
38 Senator Michaelia Cash Solicitor Curtin University; University of London; University of Western Australia Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
n/a Senator Katy Gallagher 5 rowspan=3 Template:Australian party style | Labor Albanese n/a Australian National University Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
39 Mark Dreyfus Template:Post-nominals Barrister University of Melbourne Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
40 Michelle Rowland Lawyer University of Sydney Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Incumbent Template:Age in years and days

Notes

1 A member of the Protectionist Party, Higgins served in the Labor ministry of Chris Watson, because Labor had no suitably qualified lawyer in Parliament.
2 Hughes took silk in 1909, and became a King's Counsel.[5]
3 Whitlam served as part of a two-man ministry together with Lance Barnard for fourteen days, until the full ministry was commissioned.
4 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.
5 Gallagher served as part of an interim five-person ministry for nine days, until the full ministry was commissioned.

Former ministerial titles

List of ministers for justice

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Parliamentary secretaries

While previously there existed informal titles for junior ministers, since 1980 they have been officially designated parliamentary-secretaries.[6] 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.[7][8] However, he was also formally the Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General.[9]

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 Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days
Patrick Gorman Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Date time".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Age in years and days

Attorneys-general of the states and territories

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 also

References

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External links

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

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