Attorney General of New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Attorney-General of New South Wales
Flag of New South Wales
Coat of arms of New South Wales
Incumbent Michael Daley since 28 March 2023
Department of Communities and Justice
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Parliament Cabinet Executive Council
Reports to	Premier of New South Wales
Seat	52 Martin Place, Sydney
Nominator	Premier of New South Wales
Appointer	Governor of New South Wales on the advice of the premier
Term length	At the Governor's pleasure
Formation	14 April 1824
First holder	Saxe Bannister
Deputy	Solicitor General

The Attorney General of New South Wales is a very important person in the government of New South Wales, Australia. You can think of them as the chief lawyer for the government and the people. Their main job is to make sure justice is fair and that the laws are followed.

This role is part of the Government of New South Wales. The Attorney General helps manage how justice is handled across the state. They are also one of the main legal advisors to the government.

Working with the Solicitor General and other legal offices, the Attorney General gives legal advice to the government. They help make sure the government acts within the law.

The current Attorney General, since March 28, 2023, is Michael Daley.

The Attorney General and other ministers work through the Department of Communities and Justice. This department helps run many government services. Ultimately, the Attorney General is answerable to the Parliament of New South Wales.

What Does the Attorney General Do?

The Attorney General's job is to oversee the legal system in New South Wales. They are like the head of the state's legal team. This role has been around since 1824. That was even before the New South Wales Parliament was fully set up in 1856.

Advising the Government on Law

The Attorney General gives legal advice to the government. They also represent the government in court when needed. This role was created based on the Attorney General's job in England and Wales. They help solve legal issues between different government departments.

Overseeing Criminal Cases

The Attorney General also supervises how criminal cases are handled. However, they do not personally get involved in every prosecution. Today, most criminal cases are handled by the Public Prosecution Office. This office works under the Attorney General's supervision.

The Attorney General can ask higher courts to review cases. This happens if there is an important legal question that needs to be clarified. This helps make sure laws are understood and applied correctly.

Managing Courts and Judges

The Attorney General is responsible to the Parliament for the Department of Justice. This means they oversee all the state's courts and tribunals. They also play a role in appointing judges, magistrates, and other legal officers in New South Wales.

A Look at Past Attorneys General

Sir William Montagu Manning, who served as Solicitor-General from 1844 to 1848.

Sir William Charles Windeyer, a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1881 to 1896.

Sir Edmund Barton, who later became the first Prime Minister of Australia.

Sir Charles Wade, who was Premier of New South Wales from 1907 to 1910.

Sir Edward McTiernan, a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1930 to 1976.

Sir Henry Manning, the first leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from 1941 to 1958.

Many people have served as Attorney General of New South Wales since the position began in 1824. The very first Attorney General was Saxe Bannister. Over the years, many important legal figures and politicians have held this role. They have all contributed to shaping the legal system in New South Wales.

See also

• List of New South Wales government agencies