Caretaker conventions now in place

Ahead of the 2025 federal election the Australian Government has assumed a caretaker role.

We are operating in accordance with caretaker conventions. 

Biographical details—Brooke Hartigan

Brooke Hartigan, Acting Deputy Secretary, National Security and Criminal Justice Group

Brooke Hartigan biography photo

Brooke Hartigan is the Acting Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Criminal Justice Group of the Attorney-General’s Department. This group is responsible for a wide range of matters including:

  • criminal law
  • counter-terrorism legislation
  • international crime cooperation
  • Commonwealth parole
  • the high-risk terrorist offenders regime.

Brooke was previously the First Assistant Secretary of the Security and Counter-Terrorism Division, and has held senior executive positions in the Department of Education, firstly as Minister-Counsellor (Education and Research) posted to the Australian Embassy in Beijing, and later as Branch Manager of the National Schools Reform Branch; and in the Department of Social Services, as Branch Manager on the National Redress Scheme.

Brooke has had various other roles in the public sector including at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, and was also National Security Adviser in the Office of the Attorney-General. She has also worked in the UK’s financial regulator.

Brooke holds a Masters degree in international and comparative law from the University of Queensland, and arts and law degrees from James Cook University.