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52-595: The attorney-general of Australia ( AG ), also known as the Commonwealth attorney-general , 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 Mark Dreyfus , who was chosen by prime minister Anthony Albanese in June 2022 following

104-456: A Preventative Detention Order (PDO), before charging him with terrorist offences. Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said this was the first time a PDO had been used, and validated their importance. However, after Causevic spent three months in jail awaiting trial the federal police decided to drop the terrorism charges. Causevic's defence lawyer, Rob Stary, said there was never any real evidence against Causevic, and that this eroded confidence in

156-574: A cabinet-level post may have another title, such as ' Attorney-General ' or ' Postmaster-General '. The term 'minister' also is used in diplomacy, for a diplomat of the second class , such as in the title Minister Plenipotentiary , ranking between an Ambassador and a Minister Resident . The term minister comes from Middle English , deriving from the Old French word ministre , originally minister in Latin , meaning "servant, attendant", which itself

208-600: 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 of the state and federal attorneys-general include the administration of the selection of persons for nomination to judicial posts and

260-741: A large number of ministers, may designate ministers to be either in the inner or outer ministry or cabinet. In some jurisdictions—such as Hong Kong , Mexico , the Philippines , the United Kingdom , and the United States —holders of an equivalent cabinet-level post are called secretaries (e.g., the Home Secretary in the United Kingdom, Secretary of State in the United States). Some holders of

312-470: 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. In July 2018, then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced

364-676: A short time since its inception in 2004. Since 1964, Australia has contributed police officers to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus . AFP officers have also previously served with the United Nations in East Timor (Timor-Leste) and South Sudan . In recent years, Australian government efforts to assist neighbouring and remote countries with institutional capacity building has led to AFP deployments to Papua New Guinea ,

416-555: A variety of police and community functions and ceremonies. Ceremonial events include the annual National Police Remembrance Day Service at the National Police Memorial in Canberra on 29 September, medal presentations, parades, police funerals, memorial services, official opening of police stations and policing facilities, AFP pipes and drums concerts, inauguration events and public relations events. The Ceremonial Team coordinates

468-646: A watch on him. They could not stop them travelling to Indonesia to smuggle drugs. Instead, they contacted the Indonesian police which led to their arrest in Indonesia rather than when returning to Australia. The leaders of the gang, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran , were executed on 29 April 2015. The others are still serving prison sentences. Over 200 heavily armed police conducted raids at 3:00 am at various houses in Victoria on 19 April 2015, and then held Harun Causevic on

520-446: Is a reflection of four years of service. Senior Constable is a minimum of six years service. Leading Senior Constable is a reflection of at least 12–15 years of service. From there, promotion to Sergeant etc. is by application/merit and so on. On 2 July 2007, Muhamed Haneef was arrested and held by the AFP and Border officers for terror-related incidents, as he was leaving the country. It was

572-603: Is also responsible for delivering community policing in the Australian Capital Territory through ACT Policing and to other dependent territories , providing protective security in major airports and close protection for dignitaries including the prime minister of Australia and foreign diplomatic missions , delivering law enforcement training for Asia-Pacific partner agencies, acting as Australia's international law enforcement and policing representative, and contributing to United Nations peacekeeping around

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624-413: Is not permitted to be a member of the legislature. Depending on the administrative arrangements in each jurisdiction, ministers are usually heads of a government department and members of the government's ministry, cabinet and perhaps of a committee of cabinet. Some ministers may be more senior than others, and some may hold the title ' assistant minister ' or ' deputy minister '. Some jurisdictions, with

676-534: Is responsible to The Attorney-General's Department. Key priorities of the AFP are set by the Attorney-General, through a "ministerial direction" issued under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979. Areas of operational emphasis include: Continued responsibilities include providing: Federal agents are based in each Australian state and territory, internationally and form the largest component of

728-813: Is responsible to the Attorney-General and accountable to the Parliament of Australia . As of October 2019 the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police is Reece Kershaw , formerly the Northern Territory Police Commissioner. The AFP has a focus on preventing, investigating and disrupting transnational , serious, complex and organised crime including terrorism and violent extremism , cybercrime , child exploitation , drug smuggling , and human trafficking . The AFP

780-473: Is then known as a " minister without portfolio ". Australian Federal Police The Australian Federal Police ( AFP ) is the principal federal law enforcement agency of the Australian Government with the unique role of investigating crime and protecting the national security of the Commonwealth of Australia . The AFP is an independent agency of the Attorney-General's Department and

832-557: The 2022 federal election . 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 . 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

884-705: The Australian Capital Territory Police . This followed a review of Australia's anti-terrorism capacity by Sir Robert Mark , former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in the UK, which was commissioned by the Fraser government following the 1978 Hilton bombing . In November 1979, the Federal Narcotics Bureau was transferred to the new agency. In 1984 the protective service component of the AFP

936-777: The Australian National University warning against tampering with a system that was "arguably the envy of the world", saying "I have yet to see any compelling evidence that what we have is not working, or that there is a compellingly better option out there." The following individuals have been appointed as attorney-general for Australia: Notes The following individuals were appointed as Minister for Justice, or any of its precedent titles: While previously there existed informal titles for junior ministers, since 1980 they have been officially designated parliamentary-secretaries . They have also been titled assistant minister and minister assisting . Parliamentary-secretaries to

988-877: The Solomon Islands (Under the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands ), Timor-Leste (Under the Timor-Leste Police Development Program TLPDP ), Nauru , Tonga , Vanuatu , Afghanistan , Samoa and Vanuatu . Previous peacekeeping missions have included Haiti , Mozambique , Thailand , Namibia , and Somalia . IDG uses the Specialist Response Group for particular medium and high risk planned operations or emergency incidents in addition to assisting with capacity building and force protection operations. The AFP Ceremonial and Protocol Team conducts and participates in

1040-466: The United States —ministers cannot be members of the legislature, and a legislator chosen to become a minister must resign from the legislature. Normally the leader of the majority party becomes the prime minister , or an office of equivalent function, and selects the other ministers. In the Westminster system, these ministers continue to represent their constituency in parliament while being part of

1092-471: The Westminster system of government, ministers are usually required to be members of one of the houses of Parliament or legislature , and are usually from the political party that controls a majority in the lower house of the legislature. In other jurisdictions—such as Belgium , Mexico , Netherlands , Philippines , Slovenia , and Nigeria —the holder of a cabinet-level post or other government official

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1144-540: The AFP Act 1979 to stop, request identification, search and arrest within their jurisdiction. Uniform protection officers undertake an essential role in protecting Australia's critical infrastructure and assist in providing protection for Australian high office holders, diplomatic, consular personnel and other foreign nationals. Specialist Protective Command officers providing an armed uniform capability are located at federal establishments including Parliament House in Canberra ;

1196-653: The AFP Ceremonial and Protocol Officer (CAPO) Network and the AFP Pipes and Drums to perform ceremonial duties at these functions and ceremonies. Formerly the Ceremonial team also included the AFP Ceremonial Mounted Cadre. The AFP Ceremonial Mounted Cadre was raised on 29 September 2006 at the dedication of the National Police Memorial. The ceremonial uniform comprises linkages to former mounted policing units of

1248-816: The AFP and its partner agencies to coordinate operational disruption activities nationally and internationally with the aim of countering the enduring threat posed by foreign fighters. The Australian Federal Police College in Barton, A.C.T. is the training facility for the force. The highest ranked AFP officer is the commissioner, appointed under Section 17 of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 . 5 years, 57 days AFP members performing duties in ACT Policing, External Territories, Aviation, International Deployment Group (mission component) use uniform and community policing ranks. All other members use

1300-675: The AFP and the Australian Crime Commission . Separately, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is charged with investigating systemic corruption in the AFP and other commonwealth agencies. The AFP's role is to enforce Australian criminal law , contribute to combating complex, transnational, serious and organised crime impacting Australia's national security and to protect Commonwealth interests from criminal activity in Australia and overseas. The AFP

1352-473: The AFP and the NSW Police Force , and ceremonial and protocol officer accreditation for all of Australia's policing jurisdictions. The AFP has an international network to assist with inquiries and liaison with police agencies around the world. The AFP represents Australian state/territory police agencies internationally. AFP's International Liaison Officer Network has 85 AFP appointees in 30 countries around

1404-757: The AFP staff, federal agents chiefly perform criminal investigative duties. Current areas of focus for the AFP: The AFP hosts a National Missing Persons Coordination Unit and the Australian Interpol National Central Bureau. In addition to its federal role, the AFP provides policing services to the Australian Capital Territory and the external territories , including Christmas Island , Cocos (Keeling) Islands , Norfolk Island , and Jervis Bay Territory . The AFP Specialist Protective Command provides physical protection for

1456-715: The AFP's predecessor organisations, namely the Commonwealth Police and the Peace Officer guard, as well as mounted policing units from the NSW Police Force which patrolled the geographic area of the ACT. The Mounted Cadre was disbanded shortly after their final appearance at the opening of the AFP's new Headquarters in Barton on 7 April 2011. The AFP Ceremonial and Protocol team currently provide drill instructor accreditation for both

1508-632: The Australian government at key locations throughout Australia and internationally. Uniform protection officers (identified as Protective Service Officers or PSOs) are firearms and defensive tactics trained, and perform duties which include armed escorts, bomb appraisals, bomb detection canines, visitor control, static guarding, alarm monitoring and response, mobile, foot and bicycle patrols, maintain civil order, security consultancy services, counter-terrorism first response at many Commonwealth establishments. Protective Service Officers have powers under Section 14 of

1560-557: The Australian version of the United States ' Joint Terrorism Task Force , Canada 's Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams and the United Kingdom 's National Counter Terrorism Policing Network . The National Disruption Group (NDG) is an AFP-led interagency team which consolidates the capabilities of participating agencies to prevent, disrupt and prosecute Australian nationals who travel or intend to travel offshore to engage in hostilities and/or undertake terrorism training and support to terrorist entities. The NDG brings together

1612-652: 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 . However, he was also formally the Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General. The Australian states each have separate attorneys-general, who are state ministers with similar responsibilities to

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1664-460: The authorities. He was also critical of the earlier "grandstanding" of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Premier Daniel Andrews. On 4 June 2019 the AFP conducted a raid on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst , looking for information connected to a story she had written a few years earlier about new laws that would give the security forces new powers for surveillance over Australian citizens. Radio host Ben Fordham also claimed that he

1716-460: 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

1768-689: The creation of the Department of Home Affairs - a new ministry to include the Australian Federal Police , the Australian Border Force , and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. This meant the transfer of ASIO away from the Attorney-General's Department , although the Attorney-General would remain responsible for approving ASIO warrants. This move was somewhat criticised, with John Blaxland from

1820-564: The federal minister with respect to state law. For attorneys-general of the various states and territories of Australia , see: [REDACTED] Australia [REDACTED] New South Wales [REDACTED] Queensland [REDACTED] South Australia [REDACTED] Tasmania [REDACTED] Victoria [REDACTED] Western Australia [REDACTED] Australian Capital Territory [REDACTED] Northern Territory Minister (government) In Commonwealth realm jurisdictions which use

1872-576: The government. Individuals who are not in parliament may be appointed as a minister, usually in order to bring special skills to the government. In the United Kingdom, a government minister does not have to be a member of either House of Parliament. In practice, however, convention is that ministers must be members of either the House of Commons or House of Lords in order to be accountable to Parliament. From time to time, prime ministers appoint non-parliamentarians as ministers. This can be done by first appointing

1924-440: 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

1976-647: The longest detention without charge under recent anti-terror laws and was found to be unjustified. He received an apology and compensation after this. In October 2006 a Cairns jury convicted pilot Frederic Arthur Martens under sex tourism laws of having intercourse with a 14-year-old girl in Port Moresby , Papua New Guinea . However, Martens was not in Port Moresby at the time, and flight records could prove this. The AFP refused to retrieve those records despite numerous requests, and Martins could not retrieve them as he

2028-493: 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 . The attorney-general is the minister responsible for legal affairs, national and public security. The attorney-general also serves as

2080-642: The person to the House of Lords. Various countries form ministries as Cabinets (see List of cabinets ). Other cabinets are usually included in Politics of .. -articles Specific ministers include: Some ministers may hold multiple portfolios and lead several ministries simultaneously, while multiple ministers with separate portfolios may oversee a single ministry, or may also share both ministerial and deputy-ministerial portfolios in different ministries. A cabinet minister can sometimes be in charge of no ministry at all, and

2132-468: The possibility that reporters may also be charged in relation to the alleged offences being investigated. On 15 April 2020, the High Court of Australia ruled that the warrant used in the Smethurst raid was invalid. The Australian Federal Police withheld evidence provided by ACT Policing investigators to ACT prosecutors in 2021 Australian Parliament House sexual misconduct allegations to an inquiry into

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2184-638: The primary law enforcement agency responsible for aviation security at the nine major Australian airports; Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Cairns, Gold Coast and Perth. On 6 December 2019 the AFP announced that the Protective Operations Response Team (PORT) members located at the nine designated Australian airports will carry the Daniel Defense Mk.18 Short Barreled Rifle. The increase in AFP aviation protection capability

2236-692: The residences of the prime minister and governor-general; foreign embassies and consulates in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth; the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation , joint defence facilities such as the Australian Defence Force Headquarters in Canberra, Holsworthy Barracks, Garden Island Naval Base , Victoria Barracks, the Pine Gap US defence installation, and sensitive covert locations in Australia and internationally. Aviation Uniform Police (AUP) are

2288-431: The title Federal Agent. Where applicable qualified members are also entitled to use Detective designation. AFP Commissioner's Order 1 (Administration) states that every AFP Member holds a rank (as detailed below), with the corresponding title and role adopted. Policing Rank/Title Operations Title Federal Agent Federal Agent Federal Agent Federal Agent Commander Assistant Commissioner First Class Constable

2340-492: The world. AFP International Liaison Officers are the Australian Government's law enforcement representatives overseas. The Joint Counter Terrorism Teams (JCTTs) in each state and territory jurisdiction consist of AFP, state and territory police, and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation officers. JCTTs conduct investigations to prevent and disrupt terrorism and violent extremism . The JCTT model can be seen as

2392-651: The world. The AFP is also a member of the National Intelligence Community and works closely with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation , the Australian Border Force , and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission . The Australian Federal Police was formed on 19 October 1979 under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 after the merging of the former Commonwealth Police and

2444-449: Was derived from the word ' minus ' meaning "less". In jurisdictions that use the Westminster system of government—such as the United Kingdom and Australia —ministers or their equivalents are selected from the legislature, and usually from the political party that controls a majority in the lower house of the legislature. In jurisdictions with strict separation of powers —such as Belgium , Mexico , Netherlands , Philippines , and

2496-475: Was in jail. When the records were eventually retrieved by Martens' partner the convictions were quashed, with strong criticism of the AFP by Justice Chesterman. The AFP also froze all of Marten's funds while he was in custody, which prevented treatment for his daughter in Port Moresby, who died as a result. The AFP were contacted by a member of the Bali Nine drug courier gang's father, and they said they would keep

2548-488: Was part of the Aviation Security Enhancement Program (ASEP), the short barreled firearms specifically for the purpose of delivering a Counter Terrorist First Response (CTFR) role. Since its inception, the AFP has had a long tradition of involvement in international peacekeeping , policing and capacity development. International Deployment Group (IDG) is an AFP portfolio that has increased rapidly in

2600-600: Was separated forming the Australian Protective Service under the administrative service and later governed by Attorney-General's Department; that agency was transferred back to the AFP in 2004 and is now known as Australian Federal Police Specialist Protective Command or as "Uniform Protection" internally. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, a joint committee of members of the Australian House and Senate , has responsibility for oversight of

2652-425: 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

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2704-803: Was under investigation for some of his reporting. The next day the police raided the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) over a story about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The search warrant allowed the police to "add, copy, delete or alter" any files they found on the computers. The incidents caused an outcry of condemnation from international media outlets, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and The New York Times . However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that "it never troubles me that our laws are being upheld". The AFP have not ruled out

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