Attorneys-General

Abstract

The first Commonwealth Attorney-General was Alfred Deakin, who held office from 1901 to 1903. Since then, the role of Attorney-General has greatly widened and has become more akin to that of a Minister of Justice. The Attorney-General has, however, always had the important responsibility of recommending the appointment of High Court Justices. Because of the demands of the Parliament, the Attorney-General's Department and the electorate, Attorneys-General have made few appearances in person before the Court (apart from ceremonial occasions), even where they have themselves previously been notable counsel. They have made an impact on the Court, however, not only through their role in appointments, but also as sponsors of legislation defining the Court's jurisdiction and as protagonists in disputes coming before or involving the Court. Of the 30 Attorneys-General since federation, a number have gained particular attention in their dealings with the Court.