New South Wales Attorney-General's Department
Encyclopedia
The New South Wales Department of Attorney General and Justice, a department of the New South Wales Government, is responsibile for the administration and development of a just and equitable legal system of courts, tribunals, laws and other mechanisms that further the principles of justice in New South Wales
.
The department assists the Attorney General
and Minister for Justice
, currently Greg Smith, the first law officer of New South Wales.
The department's headquarters are located in the Justice Precinct Office, part of the Parramatta Justice Precinct in Parramatta, in western Sydney
. The department's 4,000 staff are located across New South Wales.
.
In 1901, the Department of Attorney General and the Department of Justice were amalgamated into the Department of the Attorney General and Justice. In 1911, two separate branches of the Department were established, later called divisions which continued until the 1970s. Responsibility for police and corrective services were removed from the Department in the 1970s; and by 1991 the Department of Courts Administration was split out of the Department. Some four years later, the two Departments were merged and the Justice portfolio re-established in 2009 through the creation of the Department of Justice and Attorney General.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
The department assists the Attorney General
Attorney General of New South Wales
The Attorney General of New South Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General of New South Wales and Crown Solicitor, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government...
and Minister for Justice
Minister for Justice (New South Wales)
The New South Wales Minister for Justice is The Honourable Greg Smith SC MP. The position supports the Attorney General and is typically held concurrently with that office....
, currently Greg Smith, the first law officer of New South Wales.
The department's headquarters are located in the Justice Precinct Office, part of the Parramatta Justice Precinct in Parramatta, in western Sydney
Western Sydney
Western Sydney is a major region of Sydney, Australia. It has a number of different definitions but one consistently used is the region composed of the 11 councils which until recently were all members of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils:* Auburn Council* Bankstown City Council*...
. The department's 4,000 staff are located across New South Wales.
History
The re-organisation of the legal system of Colonial New South Wales led to the creation of the Attorney-General, an appointed law officer. Following the creation of self-government in 1856, the position of Attorney-General became an officer appointed by the Government of the day from within the membership of the Parliament of New South WalesParliament of New South Wales
The Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales . It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with...
.
In 1901, the Department of Attorney General and the Department of Justice were amalgamated into the Department of the Attorney General and Justice. In 1911, two separate branches of the Department were established, later called divisions which continued until the 1970s. Responsibility for police and corrective services were removed from the Department in the 1970s; and by 1991 the Department of Courts Administration was split out of the Department. Some four years later, the two Departments were merged and the Justice portfolio re-established in 2009 through the creation of the Department of Justice and Attorney General.
External links
- Department of Attorney General and Justice website
- The New South Wales Victims Compensation Tribunal