Committees and councils

We chair, coordinate and contribute to councils and committees spanning work across our portfolio.

Ministerial councils

  • The Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG)—comprises Attorneys-General from the Australian Government, all states and territories, and the New Zealand Minister for Justice. Its purpose is to implement a national and trans-Tasman focus on maintaining and promoting best practice in law reform.

International committees

  • Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting—meet annually to discuss current law and justice issues of common concern including counter-terrorism, cybercrime, human rights and access to justice.
  • Quintet of Attorneys-General—brings together Attorneys-General from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States annually to address challenges and progress matters of common interest.
  • The 2018 meeting of the Quintet was hosted by Australia on 30 August 2018. This meeting marked 10 years of collaboration between Attorneys-General from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Discussions focused on the challenges of investigating and prosecuting foreign fighters and terrorists, trial issues, family law and violence matters, and over-representation of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system.

Other councils

  • Administrative Review Council — enquires into and advises on the federal administrative law system, administrative decision making practices and tribunal practice and procedure.
  • Admiralty Rules Committee — advises the Attorney-General about rules concerning the practice and procedure to be followed in courts exercising jurisdiction under the Act, and matters incidental to such practice and procedure.
  • Family Law Council — advises on the workings of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), other family law matters and legal aid as it applies to families.
  • Industry Consultation on National Security (ICONS) — is a CEO-level consultative body, providing a forum for Australian Government to engage directly with Australia's business leaders on key national security issues.