List of Australian Attorneys-General

compiled by Patrick O'Neill; updated by Catherine Lorimer and Pauline Downing

This guide lists Attorneys-General for each jurisdiction in Australia. The first Attorney-General was Saxe Bannister who was appointed in the colony of New South Wales in 1823. Links to authoritative biographical information are given for federal Attorneys-General. For an overview of the role of the Attorney-General see the 1997 Report on the Review of the Attorney-General's Legal Practice. Chapter 3. Role of the Attorney-General.

Attorneys-General are also listed from 1890 in A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics, by Colin Hughes, (Canberra: Australian National University Press) covering the periods 1890-1964, 1965-1974, 1975-1984 and 1985-1999.

Australia (Federal Attorneys-General)

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

Federal Attorneys-General 1901+

Alfred Deakin 1 Jan 1901–24 Sep 1903
Sen. James George Drake 24 Sep 1903–27 Apr 1904
Henry Bournes Higgins 27 Apr 1904–17 Aug 1904
Sen. Sir Josiah Henry Symon 18 Aug 1904–5 July 1905
Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs 5 July 1905–12 Oct 1906
Sir Littleton Ernest Groom 12 Oct 1906–13 Nov 1908
William (Billy) Morris Hughes 13 Nov 1908–2 Jun 1909
Patrick McMahon Glynn 2 Jun 1909–29 Apr 1910
William Morris Hughes 29 Apr 1910–24 Jun 1913
Sir William Hill Irvine 24 Jun 1913–17 Sep 1914
William Morris Hughes 17 Sep 1914–21 Dec 1921
Sir Littleton Ernest Groom 21 Dec 1921–18 Dec 1925
Sir John Greig Latham 18 Dec 1925–22 Oct 1929
Francis (Frank) Brennan 22 Oct 1929–6 Jan 1932
Sir John Greig Latham 6 Jan 1932–12 Oct 1934
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies 12 Oct 1934–20 Mar 1939
William Morris Hughes 20 Mar 1939–7 Oct 1941
Herbert Vere Evatt 7 Oct 1941–19 Dec 1949
John Albert Beasley (Acting Attorney-General) 1 Mar 1942–30 Jun 1942, 1 Mar 1943–31 Aug 1943, circa 1 Jan 1945–by 31 Dec 1945
Sen. Sir John Armstrong Spicer 19 Dec 1949–14 Aug 1956
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies (Acting Attorney-General) circa 1 May 1955–by 31 Aug 1955
Sen. Sir Michael Neil O’Sullivan 15 Aug 1956–10 Dec 1958
Sir Garfield Edward John Barwick 10 Dec 1958–4 Mar 1964
Sir William McMahon (Acting Attorney-General) 16 Sep 1960–22 Oct 1960, 19 Apr 1961–20 May 1961
Sir Billy Mackie Snedden 4 Mar 1964–14 Dec 1966
Sir Gordon Freeth (Acting Attorney General) 1962, 1963, 1965, 21 Apr 1966–10 May 1966
Sir Nigel Hubert Bowen 14 Dec 1966–12 Nov 1969
Thomas (Tom) Eyre Forrest Hughes 12 Nov 1969–22 Mar 1971
Sir Nigel Hubert Bowen 22 Mar 1971–2 Aug 1971
Sen. Ivor John Greenwood 2 Aug 1971–5 Dec 1972
Edward Gough Whitlam 5 Dec 1972–19 Dec 1972
Sen. Lionel Keith Murphy 19 Dec 1972–10 Feb 1975
Keppel (Kep) Earl Enderby 10 Feb 1975–11 Nov 1975
Sen. Ivor John Greenwood 11 Nov 1975–22 Dec 1975
Robert (Bob) James Ellicott 22 Dec 1975–6 Sep 1977
Sen. Peter Drew Durack 6 Sep 1977–11 Mar 1983
Sen. Gareth John Evans 11 Mar 1983–13 Dec 1984
Lionel Frost Bowen 13 Dec 1984–4 Apr 1990
Michael John Duffy 4 Apr 1990–24 Mar 1993
Duncan James Colquhoun Kerr 1 Apr 1993–27 Apr 1993
Michael Hugh Lavarch 27 Apr 1993–11 Mar 1996
Daryl Robert Williams 11 Mar 1996–7 Oct 2003
Philip Maxwell Ruddock 7 Oct 2003–3 Dec 2007
Robert Bruce McClelland 3 Dec 2007–14 Dec 2011
Nicola Louise Roxon 14 Dec 2011–4 Feb 2013
Mark Alfred Dreyfus  4 Feb 2013–18 Sep 2013
Sen. George Henry Brandis 18 Sep 2013–20 Dec 2017
Charles Christian Porter 20 Dec 2017–30 Mar 2021
Sen. Michaelia Clare Cash 30 Mar 2021–23 May 2022
Mark Dreyfus   1 June 2022 –

Australian Capital Territory Attorneys-General 1989+

Rosemary Follett

18.5.1989-14.12.1989

Bernard Joseph Edward Collaery

14.12.1989-18.6.1991

Terry Connolly

18.6.1991-17.3.1995

Gary John Joseph Humphries

17.3.1995-15.12.2000

Bill Stefaniak

15.12.2000-14.11.2001

Jon Stanhope

14.11.2001-18.4.2006

Simon Corbell

18.4.2006-31.10.2016

Gordon Ramsay 31.10.2016-3.11.2020
Shane Rattenbury 3.11.2020- 

Back to top

New South Wales Attorneys-General 1823+

Saxe Bannister (also known as Sax Bannister) Selected for appointment October 1823;

Commission was dated 14 April 1824 on his arrival in NSW- 13 October 1826
William Henry Moore (acting) 13.10.1826-31.7.1827
Alexander MacDuff Baxter 1.8.1827-24.1.1831
William Henry Moore (acting) 24.1.1831 (?) -24.6.1831
John Kinchela 25.6.1831-18.4.1836

John Hubert Plunkett

19.4.1836-16.9.1836 (acting);

17.9.1836-5.6.1856;

25.8.1865-21.1. 1866

Sir William Montagu Manning

6.6.1856 - 25.8. 1856;

3.10.1856 - 25.5. 1857;

21.2. 8.3.1860;

31.10.1868 - 15.12. 1870

Sir James Martin

26.8.1856 - 2.10.1856;

7.9.1857 - 8.11. 1858;

16.10.1863 - 2.2. 1865;

22.1.1866 - 26.10. 1868;

16.12.1870 - 13.5. 1872

Sir John Bayley Darvall

26.5.1857 - 7.9.1857;

1.9.1863 - 15.10.1863;

3.2.1865 - 20.6.1865

Alfred James Peter Lutwyche

15.11.1858 - 28.2. 1859

Sir Lyttelton Holysake Bayley

1.3.1859 - 26.10. 1859

Edward Wise

27.10.1859 13.2. 1860

John Fletcher Hargrave

2.4.1860 31.7. 1863

Edward Butler

15.5.1872 10.11.1873

Sir Joseph George Long Innes

20.11.1873 8.2. 1875

William Bede Dalley

9.2.1875 21.3. 1877;

17.8.1877 17.12.1877;

5.1.1883 6.10. 1885

Sir William Charles Windeyer

22.3.1877 16.8.1877;

21.12.1878 10.8. 1879

William John Foster

18.12.1877 20.12. 1878;

20.1.1887 18.5.1887

Sir Robert Wisdom

13.8.1879 4.1.1 883

John Henry Want

7.10.1885 21.12.1885;

26.2.1886 19.1. 1887;

18.12.1894 4.4. 1898;

18.6.1898 18.4. 1899

Sir George Bowen Simpson

22.12.1885 25.2. 1886;

10.2.1888 16.1. 1889;

8.3.1889 22.10. 1891;

3.8.1894 1.12. 1894

Bernhard Ringrose Wise

27.5.1887 7.2.1888;

14.9.1899 14.6. 1904

Sir Edmund Barton

17.1.1889 7.3.1889;

23.10.1891 14.12. 1893

Charles Gilbert Heydon

15.12.1893 2.8. 1894

Sir George Houston Reid

19.4.1899 13.9. 1899

James Conley Gannon

15.6.1904 29.8.1904

Sir Charles Gregory Wade

30.8.1904 20.10.1910

William Arthur Holman

21.10.1910 29.1.1914

David Robert Hall

29.1.1914 23.7.1919

John Garland

23.7.1919 12.4.1920

Sir Edward Aloysius McTiernan

13.4.1920 20.12.1921;

20.12.1921-12.4.1922;

17.6.1925-26.5.1927

Sir Thomas Rainsford Bavin

20.12.1921;

13.4.1922 17.6.1925

Andrew Augustus Lysaght

27.5.1927 18.10.1927;

4.11.1930 16.6.1931

Francis Stewart Boyce

19.10.1927 3.11.1930

Joseph Lamaro

17.6.1931 13.5.1932

Sir Daniel Levy

16.5.1932 17.6.1932

Sir Henry Edward Manning

18.6.1932 16.5.1941

Clarence Edward Martin

16.5.1941 23.2.1953

William Francis Sheahan

23.2.1953 15.3.1956

Robert Reginald Downing

15.3.1956 13.5.1965

Sir Kenneth Malcolm McCaw

13.5.1965 3.1.1975

John Clarkson Maddison

3.1.1975 14.5.1976

Francis (Frank) John Walker

14.5.1976 1.2.1983

Paul Landa

1.2.1983 24.11.1984

Neville Kenneth Wran

27.11.1984 12.12.1984

Terence William Sheahan

12.12.1984 26.11.1987

Ronald Joseph Mulock

26.11.1987 25.3.1988

John Robert Arthur Dowd

25.3.1988 6.6.1991

Peter Edward James Collins

6.6.1991 3.7.1992

John Planta Hannaford

3.7.1992 4.4.1995

Jeffrey William Shaw

4.4.1995 28.6.2000

Robert (Bob) John Debus

28.6.2000 2.4.2007

John Hatzistergos

2.4.2007 28.3.2011

Gregory (Greg) Eugene Smith 3.4.2011 - 17.4.2014
Bradley (Brad) Ronald Hazzard 23.4.2014 - 2.4.2015 
Gabrielle Cecelia Upton  2.4.2015 - 30.1.2017
 Mark Raymond Speakman 30.1.2017 - 28.3.2023
Michael John Daley  28.3.2023-

Sources: Sydney Gazette (for early appointments); NSW Department of Justice website

Back to top

Northern Territory Attorneys-General 1978+

N.B. 1993 dates uncertain

Paul Anthony Edward Everingham

1.7.1978 30.11.1982

James Murray Robertson

1.12.1982 20.12.1984

Marshall Bruce Perron

21.12.1984 28.4.1986

Daryl William Manzie

29.4.1986 29.11.1992, 8 13.4.1993 (acting?), 28.4.1993 29.7.1994

Shane Leslie Stone

30.11.1992 28.4.1993, 15.9.1997 8.2.1999

Frederick Arthur Finch

29.7.1994 30.6.1995

Stephen Paul Hatton

1.7.1995 20.6.1996

Denis Gabriel Burke

21.6.1996 14.9.1997, 9.2.1999 26.8.2001

Peter Howard Toyne

27.8.2001 1.9.2006

Syd Stirling

1.9.2006 25.11.2007

Paul Henderson 26.11.2007- 29.11.2007
Chris Burns 30.11.2007-3.2.2009
Marion Rose Scrymgour 4.2.2009-8.2.2009
Delia Phoebe Lawrie 9.2.2009-27.10.2011
(Rob) Daniel Robert Knight  28.10.2011-28.8.2012 
Johan (John) Wessel Elferink  2.10.2012-8.8.2016
Natasha Kate Fyles 31.8.2016-7.9.2020
Selena Jane Malijarri Uibo 7.9.2020-22 May 2022
 Chansey Paech 23 May 2022 -

Back to top

Queensland Attorneys-General 1859+

R. Pring

10.12.1859 30.8.1865, 21.7.1866 7.8.1866, 15.8.1867 25.11.1868, 21.11.1869 3.5.1870, 16.5.1879 - 4.6.1880

J. Bramston

31.8.1865 11.9.1865, 3.5.1870 1874

C. Lilley

1865 1869 (various periods)

E.O. MacDevitt

8.1.1874 3.8.1874

Sir S.W. Griffith

3.8.1874 7.12.1878, 12.8.1890 13.3.1893

J.F. Garrick

7.12.1878 21.1.1879

J.M. Thompson

21.1.1879 16.5.1879

H.R. Boer

4.6.1880 25.12.1880

P.A. Cooper

31.12.1880 5.1.1883

C.E. Chubb

6.1.1883 13.11.1883

A. Rutledge

13.11.1883 13.6.1888, 28.3.1899 1.12.1899, 7.12.1899 17.9.1903

A.J. Thynne

13.6.1888 12.8.1890

T.J. Byrnes

13.3.1893 29.9.1898

W.H. Wilson

1.10.1898 28.3.1899

C.B. Fitzgerald

1.12.1899 7.12.1899

J.W. Blair

17.9.1903 19.11.1907, 18.2.1908 29.10.1908

F.I. Power

19.11.1907 18.2.1908

T. O Sullivan

29.10.1908 1.6.1915

T.J. Ryan

1.6.1915 22.10.1919

J.A. Fihelly

22.10.1919 7.4.1920 (as Minister for Justice), 7.4.1920 12.11.1920 (as AG)

J. Mullen

12.11.1920 21.5.1929, 17.6.1932 14.11.1940

N.F. MacGroary

21.5.1929 17.6.1932

J. O Keefe

14.11.1940 8.12.1941

D.A. Gledson

8.12.1941 14.5.1949

G.H. Devries

9.6.1949 10.5.1950

J. Larcombe

10.5.1950 10.3.1952

W. Power

10.3.1952 12.8.1957

Alan Whiteside Munro

12.8.1957 26.9.1963

Peter Roylance Delamothe

26.9.1963 20.12.1971

William Edward Knox

20.12.1971 13.8.1976

William Daniel Lickiss

13.8.1976 23.12.1980

Samuel Sydney Doumany

23.12.1980 18.8.1983

Neville John Harper

19.8.1983 1.12.1986

Paul John Clauson

1.12.1986 1.12.1987, 9.12.1987 28.8.1989, 25.9.1989 7.12.1989

Michael John Ahern

1.12.1987 9.12.1987

Ivan James Gibbs

31.8.1989 25.9.1989

Dean MacMillan Wells

7.12.1989 31.7.1995

Matthew Joseph Foley

31.7.1995 19.2.1996, 29.6.1998 22.2.2001

Joan Mary Sheldon

19.2.1996 26.2.1996

Denver Edward Beanland

26.2.1996 26.6.1998

Peter Douglas Beattie

26.6.1998 29.6.1998

Rodney Jon Welford

22.2.2001 28.7.2005

Linda Lavarch

28.7.2005 18.10.2006

Kerry Gerard Shine

1.11.2006 26.3.2009

Cameron Robert Dick 26.3.2009-21.2.2011
Paul Thomas Lucas 21.2.2011-3.4.2012
Jarrod Pieter Bleijie 3.4.2012-16.2.2015
Yvette Maree D'Ath  16.2.2015-11.11.2020 
Shannon Fentiman 13.11.2020 - 17.5.2023 
Yvette Maree D'Ath  18.5.2023 - 

Sources: Queensland Parliament website, Queensland Dept. of Justice

Back to top

South Australian Attorneys-General 1856+

Richard Davies Hanson

25.10.1856 21.08.1857

Edward Castres Gwynne

21.08.1857 01.09.1857

Richard Bulloch Andrews

01.09.1857 30.09.1857

Richard Davies Hanson

30.09.1857 09.05.1860

Henry Bull Templar Strangways

09.05.1860 20.05.1861

Randolph Isham Stow

20.05.1861 08.10.1861

Henry Gawler

08.10.1861 17.10.1861

Randolph Isham Stow

17.10.1861 04.07.1863

Richard Bulloch Andrews

04.07.1863 22.07.1864

Randolph Isham Stow

22.07.1864 22.03.1865

Richard Bulloch Andrews

22.03.1865 23.10.1865

James Penn Boucaut

23.10.1865 03.05.1867

Richard Bulloch Andrews

03.05.1867 24.09.1868

John Tuthill Bagot

24.09.1868 13.10.1868

Richard Bulloch Andrews

13.10.1868 03.11.1868

Henry Bull Templar Strangways

03.11.1868 30.05.1870

Richard Chaffey Baker

30.05.1870 21.07.1871

Charles Mann

21.07.1871 22.01.1872

James Penn Boucaut

22.01.1872 04.03.1872

George John William Stevenson

04.03.1872 22.07.1873

Charles Mann

22.07.1873 03.06.1875

Samuel James Way

03.06.1875 21.03.1876

Henry Gawler

21.03.1876 25.03.1876

Charles Mann

25.03.1876 06.06.1876

John Cox Bray

06.06.1876 26.10.1877

Charles Mann

26.10.1877 27.09.1878

William Henry Bundy

27.09.1878 10.03.1881

Josiah Henry Symon

10.03.1881 24.06.1881

John William Downer

24.06.1881 16.06.1884

Charles Cameron Kingston

16.06.1884 15.06.1885

John William Downer

15.06.1885 11.06.1887

Charles Cameron Kingston

11.06.1887 27.06.1889

Beaumont Arnold Moulden

27.06.1889 31.03.1890

Frederick Foote Turner

31.03.1890 02.05.1890

Henry Edward Downer

02.05.1890 18.08.1890

Robert Homburg

18.08.1890 21.06.1892

William Frederick Stock

21.06.1892 15.10.1892

Robert Homburg

15.10.1892 16.06.1893

Charles Cameron Kingston

16.06.1893 01.12.1899

Patrick McMahon Glynn

01.12.1899 08.12.1899

John Hannah Gordon

08.12.1899 02.12.1903

Louis von Doussa

02.12.1903 04.07.1903

Robert Homburg

04.07.1904 24.02.1905

James Robert Anderson

01.03.1905 26.07.1905

Archibald Henry Peake

26.07.1905 04.06.1909

Samuel James Mitchell

05.06.1909 21.12.1909

Hermann Homburg

22.12.1909 02.06.1910

William Joseph Denny

02.06.1910 16.02.1912

Hermann Homburg

16.02.1912 20.01.1915

Herbert Angas Parsons

21.01.1915 02.04.1915

John Howard Vaughan

03.04.1915 13.07.1917

Henry Newman Barwell

14.07.1917 26.08.1917

Archibald Henry Peake

27.08.1917 28.04.1918

Henry Newman Barwell

29.04.1918 16.04.1924

William Joseph Denny

16.04.1924 07.04.1927

Hermann Homburg

08.04.1927 16.04.1930

William Joseph Denny

17.04.1930 17.04.1933

Shirley Williams Jeffries

18.04.1933 06.05.1944

Thomas Playford

06.05.1944 15.05.1944

Charles Arthur Hillas Lempriere Abbott

15.04.1944 17.04.1946

Reginald John Rudall

17.04.1946 01.01.1955

Thomas Playford

06.01.1955 06.04.1955

Hon. Colin Davies Rowe

06.04.1955 09.03.1965

Donald Allan Dunstan

10.03.1965 16.04.1968

Robin Rhodes Millhouse

17.04.1968 01.06.1970

Leonard James King

02.06.1970 19.06.1975

Donald Allan Dunstan

20.06.1975 08.10.1975

Peter Duncan

09.10.1975 15.03.1979

Donald Hubert Louis Banfield

15.03.1979 30.04.1979

Christopher John Sumner

01.05.1979 17.09.1979

Kenneth Trevor Griffin

17.09.1979 10.11.1982

Christopher John Sumner

10.11.1982 14.12.1993

Kenneth Trevor Griffin

14.12.1993 04.12.2001

Robert David Lawson

04.12.2001 05.03.2002

Michael John Atkinson

05.03.2002 30.06.2003

Paul Holloway

30.06.2003 29.08.2003

Michael John Atkinson

29.08.2003 25.03.2010

John Robert Rau 25.03.2010-19.03.2018
Vickie Ann Chapman  19.03.2018- 21.03.2022
 Kyam Maher 24.3.2022 -  

Back to top

Tasmanian Attorneys-General 1856+

Sir Francis Smith

1.11.1856 26.2.1857

John Compton Gregson

26.2.1857 25.4.1857

Sir Francis Smith

25.4.1857 1.11.1860

Thomas John Knight

1.11.1860 4.2.1861

Sir William Lambert Dobson

5.2.1861 20.1.1863

Robert Byron Miller

20.1.1863 24.11.1866

Sir William Lambert Dobson

24.11.1866 5.2.1870

William Robert Giblin

5.2.1870 4.11.1872

John Alexander Jackson

4.11.1872 4.4.1873

William Robert Giblin

4.8.1873 20.7.1876

Charles Hamilton Bromby

20.7.1876 9.8.1877

William Robert Giblin

9.8.1877 13.8.1877

Sir Alfred Dobson

13.8.1877 20.12.1878

Sir John Stokell Dodds

20.12.1878 1.12.1881

William Robert Giblin

1.12.1881 15.8.1884

Sir John Stokell Dodds

15.8.1884 15.2.1887

Richard James Lucas

25.2.1887 29.3.1887

Andrew Inglis Clark

30.3.1887 17.8.1892

Sir Neil Elliott Lewis

17.8.1892 14.4.1894

Andrew Inglis Clark

14.4.1894 23.10.1897

Donald Campbell Urquhart

10.11.1897 12.10.1899

Sir Neil Elliott Lewis

12.10.1899 8.4.1903

Herbert Nicholls

9.4.1903 11.7.1904

George Crosby Gilmore

12.7.1904 1.5.1906

William Bispham Propsting

1.5.1906 19.6.1909

Albert Edgar Solomon

19.6.1909 20.10.1909

John Earle

20.10.1909 27.10.1909

Albert Edgar Solomon

27.10.1909 6.4.1914

John Earle

6.4.1914 15.4.1916

William Bispham Propsting

15.4.1916 14.8.1923

Alexander Hean

14.8.1923 25.10.1923

Albert George Ogilvie

25.10.1923 15.6.1928

Henry Seymour Baker

15.6.1928 22.6.1934

Eric James Ogilvie

22.6.1934 19.8.1940

Roy Frederick Fagan

10.12.1946 19.7.1958

William Arthur Neilson

22.7.1958 28.10.1958

Eric Elliott Reece

28.10.1958 12.5.1959

Roy Frederick Fagan

12.5.1959 26.5.1969

Eardley Max Bingham

26.5.1969 (New Govt) 3.5.1972 (Change of Govt)

Mervyn George Everett

3.5.1972 1.8.1972

Eric Elliott Reece

2.8.1972 21.8.1972

Mervyn George Everett

21.8.1972 12.4.1974

William Arthur Neilson

12.4.1974 31.3.1975

Brian Kirkwall Miller

31.3.1975 26.5.1982 (Change of Govt)

Eardley Max Bingham

27.5.1982 (New Govt) 13.6.1984 (Resigned from HA)

Geoffrey Alan Pearsall

14.6.1984 19.2.1986

John Myles Bennett

19.2.1986 29.6.1989

Peter James Patmore

3.7.1989 17.2.1992 (Change Of Govt)

Raymond John Groom

17.2.1992 (New Govt) 18.2.1992

Ronald Cornish

18.2.1992 18.3.1996

Suzanne Deidre Napier

18.3.1996 21.3.1996

Raymond John Groom

21.3.1996 14.9.1998 (Change of Govt)

Paul Anthony Lennon

14.9.1998 (New Govt) 18.9.1998

Peter James Patmore

18.9.1998 (New Govt) 20.7.2002 (Retired at Election)

Judith Louise Jackson

9.8.2002 (New Govt) 5.4.2006 (retired)

Steven Kons 5.4.2006 12.2.2008

David Edward Llewellyn      
 

12.2.2008 (Cabinet reshuffle) -17.9.2008

Larissa (Lara) Tahireh Giddings 17.9.2008-24.1.2011
David John Bartlett 24.1.2011-13.5.2011
Brian Neal Wightman  13.5.2011- 31.3.2014 
Vanessa Goodwin 31.3.2014 - 02.10.2017
Matthew Groom (Acting) 4.4.2017-23.9.2017
Will Hodgman  02.10.2017-21.3.2018 
Elise Archer  21.3.2018 - 29.9.2023
 Guy Barnett 2.10.2023 - 

Back to top

Victorian Attorneys-General 1851+

William Foster Stawell

15.7.1851 24.2.1857

Thomas Howard Fellows

25.2.1857 10.3.1857

Henry Samuel Chapman

11.3.1857 28.4.1857;

10.3.1858 26.10.1859

Archibald Michie

29.4.1857 9.3.1858;

9.4.1870 19.6.1871

John Dennistoun Wood

27.10.1859 25.11.1860

Richard Davies Ireland

26.11.1860 28.7.1861;

14.11.1861 26.6.1863

Butler Cole Aspinall

29.7.1861 13.11.1861

George Higginbotham

27.6.1863 5.5.1868

Morgan Augustus McDonnell

6.5.1868 10.7.1868;

20.9.1869 8.4.1870

George Paton Smith

11.7.1868 19.9.1869

Robert Walsh

5.7.1871 9.6.1872

James Wilberforce Stephen

10.6.1872 1.5.1875

George Briscoe Kerferd

2.5.1875 7.8.1875;

20.10.1875 20.5.1877;

5.3.1880 2.8.1880;

8.3.1883 1.1.1886

Robert Le Poer Trench

9.8.1875 19.10.1875;

21.5.1877 26.3.1878

Sir Bryan O Loghlen

27.3.1878 4.4.1880;

9.7.1881 7.3.1883;

23.1.1893 26.9.1894

William Mountford Kinsey Vale

3.8.1880 8.7.1881

Henry John Wrixon

18.2.1886 4.11.1890

William Shiels

5.11.1890 15.2.1892;

28.4.1892 22.1.1893

John Gavan Duffy

16.2.1892 27.4.1892

Isaac Alfred Isaacs

27.9.1894 4.12.1899;

19.11.1900 3.6.1901

William Hill Irvine

5.12.1899 18.11.1900;

10.6.1901 6.9.1903

Sir Samuel Gillatt

4.6.1901 9.6.1902

John Mark Davies

7.9.1903 7.1.1909

John Drysdale Brown

8.1.1909 8.12.1913

William John Evans

9.12.1913 21.12.1913

Donald MacKinnon

22.12.1913 8.11.1915

Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson

9.11.1915 28.11.1917;

21.3.1918 20.10.1919

Agar Wynne

29.11.1917 20.3.1918

Sir Arthur Robinson

21.10.1919 10.7.1924

Henry Isaac Cohen

11.7.1924 17.7.1924

William Slater

18.7.1924 17.11.1924;

20.5.1927 21.11.1928;

12.12.1929 18.5.1932;

14.9.1943 17.9.1943;

21.11.1945 19.11.1947;

17.12.1952 6.6.1955

Frederick William Eggleston

18.11.1924 27.4.1927

John Allan

28.4.1927 19.5.1927

Ian MacFarlan

26.11.1928 11.12.1929;

25.7.1934 1.4.1935;

18.9.1943 20.11.1945

Robert Gordon Menzies

19.5.1932 24.7.1934

Albert Louis Bussau

2.4.1935 18.4.1938

Henry Stephen Bailey

26.4.1938 13.9.1943

Trevor Donald Oldham

20.11.1947 26.6.1950

Thomas Walter Mitchell

27.6.1950 27.10.1952;

31.10.1952 16.12.1952

Thomas Tuke Holloway

28.10.1952 30.10.1952

William Watt Leggatt

7.6.1955

Arthur Gordon Rylah

8.6.1955 8.5.1967

George Oswald Reid

9.5.1967 29.5.1973

Vernon Francis Wilcox

30.5.1973 30.3.1976

Alan John Hunt

31.3.1976 5.5.1976

Haddon Storey

6.5.1976 7.4.1982

John Cain

8.4.1982 7.9.1983

James Harley Kennan

8.9.1983 13.12.1987;

2.4.1990 5.10.1992

Arthur Andrew McCutcheon

14.12.1987 1.4.1990

Jan Louise Murray Wade

6.10.1992 19.10.1999

Rob Justin Hulls

20.10.1999 2.12.2010

Robert William Clark 2.12.2010-4.12.2014
Martin Philip Pakula 4.12.2014-29.11.2018 
Jill Hennessy 29.11.2018-16.12.2020 
Jaclyn Symes 22.12.2020- 

Back to top

Western Australian Attorneys-General 1870+

George Frederick Stone

1861 - 1870

Robert John Walcott

1870 - 1872

George Walpole Leake (acting)

1872 - 1873

Sir Henry Hicks Hocking

1873 - 1879

Edward Albert Stone (acting)

1879 - 1880

George Walpole Leake (acting)

1880 - 1881

Alexander Campbell Onslow

1881 - 1883

Edward Albert Stone (acting for Mr Onslow )

1882 - 1883

George Walpole Leake (acting)

Feb - May 1883

Alfred Peach Hensman

1883 - 1886

Septimus Burt (acting)

March - September 1886

Charles Nicholas Warton

1886 - 1890

Septimus Burt

29.12.1890 - 27.10.1897

Richard William Pennefeather

27.10.1897 - 20.3.1901

George Leake

27.5.1901 - 21.11.1901

Frederick William Moorhead

21.11.1901 - 23.12.1901

George Leake

23.12.1901 - 24.6.1902

Walter Hartwell James

1.7.1902 - 10.8.1904

Norbert Keenan

14.5.1906 - 14.5.1909

John Leighton Nanson

16.9.1910 - 7.10.1911

Thomas Walker

7.10.1911 - 27.7.1916

Robert Thomson Robinson

27.7.1916 - 17.5.1919

Thomas Percy Draper

17.5.1919 - 12.3.1921

Hubert Stanley Wyborn Parker

22.2.1933 - 24.2.1933

Robert Ross McDonald

1.4.1947 - 5.1.1948

Arthur Valentine Rutherford Abbott

5.1.1948 - 23.2.1953

Arthur Frederick Watts

2.4.1959 - 31.1.1962

Thomas Daniel Evans

21.10.1971 - 8.4.1974

Ian George Medcalf

22.12.1975 - 25.2.1983

Joseph Max Berinson

25.2.1983 - 16.2.1993

Cheryl Lynn Edwardes

16.2.1993 - 8.3.1993, 1.3.1994-21.12.1995

Peter Gilbert da Conceicao Foss

21.12.1995-16.2.2001

James Andrew McGinty

16.2.2001-23.9.2008

Christian Porter 23.9.2008-12.6.2012
Michael Mischin  29.6.2012-11.3.2017 
John Robery Quigley  17.3.2017-

Note: Until Cheryl Edwardes’ time (1993) there was either an Attorney General or a Minister for Justice. In Western Australia, an Attorney General has to be a lawyer, and if there was no lawyer among the ministers elected, the office would be that of Minister for Justice.