Attorney-General's Department (Australia)


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 justice framework and provides legal services to the Australian Government. The department also oversees various sub-agencies and services including the Australian Human Rights Commission 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.
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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:
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 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:
OrderOfficialOfficial titleDate appointment
commenced		Date appointment
ceased		Term in officeRef
1Sir Robert GarranSecretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department
2Sir George KnowlesSecretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department
3Sir Kenneth BaileySecretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department
4Ted HookSecretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department
5Sir Clarrie Harders Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department		1970July 19799 years
6Alan NeavesSecretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department		July 1979March 19834 years
7Pat Brazil Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department		19896 years
8Alan Rose Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department		19895 years
9Stephen SkehillSecretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department		19984 years
10Tony Blunn Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department		19982 years
11Robert Cornall Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department
12Roger Wilkins Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department
13Chris Moraitis Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department
14Katherine Jones Secretary of the
Attorney‑General's Department		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: