Department of Justice (Western Australia)

The Department of Justice is the current Western Australian government department responsible for the provision of high quality and accessible justice, legal, registry, guardianship and trustee services to meet the needs of the community and the Western Australian Government.[1]

Department of Justice Western Australia
Agency overview
FormedFebruary 2006
DissolvedDepartment of Attorney General
JurisdictionGovernment of Western Australia
Agency executive
  • Adam Tomison, Director General
Websitewww.justice.wa.gov.au

History

The original Department of Attorney General existed between 1891 and 1909.[2]

The subsequent department between 1909 and 1993 was named the Crown Law Department and was the longest lasting entity under the one name.[3]

In 1993 the Ministry of Justice was formed by the amalgamation of the former Corrective Services and Crown Law Departments and the Youth Justice Bureau, as well as some of the functions of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.[4] During which time, the Ministry of Justice formed an SDA with the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities in order to provide the administration of justice to the external territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.[5][6]

Then it was changed to the Department of Justice between 2001 and 2006.[7]

On 1 February 2006, the Department of Justice was abolished, and functions of the department passed to two newly formed departments: the Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Corrective Services.[8]

Sub-departments

The current department in its structure has multiple sub departments:[9]

  • Policy & Aboriginal Services - "Develops policy and legislation for the Government and information for Departmental business areas. Aboriginal mediation. Aboriginal justice."
  • Court and Tribunal Services - "Courts, tribunals and boards, victim support, court security, fines enforcement, justices of the peace."
  • Parliamentary Counsel's Office - "Legislative drafting services to Government."
  • Office of the Public Advocate - "Advocacy, guardianship and community education services on behalf of people with decision-making disabilities."
  • Public Trustee - "Trustee services to WA community."
  • Registry of Births, Deaths, & Marriages - "Creates and stores birth, death and marriage records; conducts civil marriages."
  • State Solicitor's Office - "Legal Services to Government."
  • Corporate Services - "Asset and contract management, business services, financial management, human resources, information services."

Solicitor General

The principal legal adviser to the Attorney General is the Solicitor-General who is described as the second law officer of the State. The Office of the Solicitor General was created with the Solicitor General Act (1969).[10]

While the Attorney General is a political appointment, the Solicitor General is an independent position. The Attorney General may delegate functions to the Solicitor General.

On 10 October 2018, Joshua Thomson SC was appointed Solicitor General for a term of 5 years.[11] He replaced Peter Quinlan SC, who was appointed Chief Justice of Western Australia.

References
  1. "Department of Justice". Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-of-attorney-general-au-wa-a69
  3. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/crown-law-department-au-wa-a68
  4. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/ministry-of-justice-au-wa-a643
  5. "Chapter 7: STATE-TYPE SERVICES - CHRISTMAS ISLAND" (PDF). Australian Government Commonwealth Grants Commission.
  6. "Chapter 6: STATE-TYPE SERVICES - THE COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS" (PDF). Australian Government Commonwealth Grants Commission.
  7. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-of-justice-au-wa-a1225
  8. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-of-justice-au-wa-a1225
  9. http://www.department.dotag.wa.gov.au/C/corporate_structure.aspx?uid=7758-4778-9101-3976, Department of the Attorney General - Departmental Structure
  10. "Solicitor General". Department of the Attorney General. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  11. "Joshua Thomson SC named WA's second law officer". Government of Western Australia. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.

Further reading
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