List of Australian Attorneys-General

Law Internet Resources

List of Australian Attorneys-General,
compiled by Patrick O'Neill

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. Further material may be found in the Library's guide to the Legal Profession and the Courts.

Attorneys-General are also listed from 1890 in 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 (Commonwealth Attorneys-General)

Australian 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
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
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 McClelland	3 Dec 2007-

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
Corbell, Simon	18.4.2006–

Source: ACT Dept. of Justice and Community Safety

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–

Sources: Sydney Gazette (for early appointments); http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/Corporate/ll_corporate.nsf/pages/attorney_generals_department_2007_03_26

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
Dr. 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-

Source: Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory, Ministries and Office Holders http://www.nt.gov.au/lant/pub/pub.shtml

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-

Sources: Queensland Parliament website, Queensland Dept. of Justice

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–

Source: information from photo gallery in Attorney-General’s Department, SA

Tasmanian Attorneys-General 1856–

Sir Francis Smith	1.11.1856–26.2.1857
J ohn 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-

Source: Tasmanian Parliamentary Library

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–

Source: Victorian Dept. of Justice Library

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
Charles Christian Porter	23.9.2008-

Source: WA Parliamentary Handbook, 20^th ed. 2002; WA Government Gazette

N.B. 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.

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