Attorney-General's Department

What Attorney-General's Department does

The Attorney-General's Department (AGD) is a state government department of South Australia headquartered at GPO Exchange, 10 Franklin Street, Adelaide, operating under the Government of South Australia and reporting to the Attorney-General as a ministerial portfolio. It administers the state's justice and legal systems, with five wholly-owned operating divisions: the Crown Solicitor's Office (legal services to government and private firms), the Director of Public Prosecutions (criminal prosecutions), Forensic Science SA (forensic disciplines, drug hair testing, blood and oral fluid analysis), the South Australian Employment Tribunal (industrial relations dispute resolution), and SafeWork SA (workplace safety regulation). Beyond these divisions, AGD delivers licensing and registrations, births/deaths/marriages registration, state records and archives, wills/estates/trusts information, Justices of the Peace and authorised witness services, and legal aid oversight through the Legal Services Commission.

AGD also coordinates Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation policy for South Australia, including the Closing the Gap implementation plan, the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Grant Fund, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 administration, and the newly legislated First Nations Voice to Parliament (6 Local First Nations Voices plus a State Voice). It chairs the Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee, which coordinates working groups across Economic Participation, Over-Representation in the criminal justice sector, Building Capacity in Vulnerable Families, and Supporting Growth in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations with co-chairs from multiple SA government departments.

AGD's business model is primarily non-commercial: it is funded through state appropriation, with most services delivered free at point of use to South Australian citizens. The only documented fee-bearing service is the Crown Solicitor's Office, which charges government agencies and private firms for legal services. Distribution occurs through direct government service delivery (offices, tribunals), online self-serve portals (civil registration, FOI, lobbyist registration, JP witnessing), and a partner network including the Courts Administration Authority, Legal Services Commission, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, and the Law Society of South Australia. The department reports directly to the Attorney-General and is owned wholly by the state.

Name

Attorney-General's Department

Legal name

Attorney-General's Department

Website

https://agd.sa.gov.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Attorney-General's Department (South Australia) is a state government department headquartered in Adelaide that administers the state's justice system, legal services, forensic science, industrial relations, civil registration, and Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, serving all South Australian residents through direct offices, online portals, and partner organisations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Legal and Justice Services

NAICS

Legal Counsel and Prosecution (922130), Legal Counsel and Prosecution (92213), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Courts (92211), Courts (922110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Prosecution & District/State Attorney Services (BPAIAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Court Services & Operations (Clerks, Records, Jury, Interpreters) (BPAIAFAH), Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ), Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC), State/Provincial Corrections, Probation & Parole Administration (BPAIABAF)

Keywords

• Government legal services
• Public prosecution
• Forensic science services
• Workplace safety regulation
• Civil registration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Attorney-General's Department is a South Australian state government department that administers the justice and legal system, provides legal services to government through the Crown Solicitor's Office, prosecutes criminal offences via the Director of Public Prosecutions, delivers forensic science through Forensic Science SA, oversees industrial relations and workplace safety through SafeWork SA and SAET, manages Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, and registers births, deaths and marriages. It also administers statutory bodies such as the Legal Services Commission and supports the First Nations Voice to Parliament.

Product overview

The Attorney-General's Department (South Australia) is a government department providing justice and legal services to the public. It operates as a single unified department with multiple service divisions rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include law and justice services, forensic science, Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, industrial relations, licensing and registrations, births/deaths/marriages, state records, wills and estates, and legal services for the public. The department also supports the First Nations Voice to Parliament as a key initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Law & Justice Services Provides legal and justice-related services including the Crown Solicitor's Office, Director of Public Prosecutions, legislation management, and forensic science services for the South Australian government and justice system.
• Forensic Science SA Provides forensic science services including forensic disciplines, drug hair testing, and blood and oral fluid testing for the South Australian justice system.
• Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Manages Aboriginal heritage protection, land and business matters, Closing the Gap initiatives, and the First Nations Voice to Parliament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia.
• Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety Services Oversees enterprise bargaining, award advices, the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET), and SafeWork SA matters including workplace safety regulation and employment law compliance.
• Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Provides civil registration services for births, deaths, and marriages for South Australian residents.
• Licensing and Registrations Manages various licensing and registration services for the public and businesses in South Australia.
• State Records and Archives Manages state records and archives for South Australia.
• Justices of the Peace and Authorised Witnesses Provides JP services, resources, and authorised witnessing services including online statutory declaration witnessing for the public.
• Legal Services for the Public Provides legal aid and support services for the public including the Legal Services Commission and consumer rights, tenancy rights, privacy rights, and small business legal assistance.
• First Nations Voice to Parliament A legislatively created elected body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia, consisting of 6 Local First Nations Voices and a State Voice to advise Parliament on matters affecting First Nations people.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Courts Administration AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourts Administration Authority works with AGD on justice reforms including vexatious litigant reforms, providing court administration expertise and judicial coordination.
• Law Society of South AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw Society was consulted on vexatious litigant reforms and represents the legal profession's interests in justice system improvements.
• Legal Services CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal Services Commission provides legal aid services and was consulted on justice reforms including vexatious litigant provisions.
• Aboriginal Legal Rights MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal Legal Rights Movement was consulted on vexatious litigant reforms, representing Aboriginal community legal interests.
• Department for Correctional ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple chief executives and Aboriginal senior leaders from this department participate in the Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee to address over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.
• Department for Industry, Innovation and SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief executive Adam Reid co-chairs the Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee working groups focused on economic participation for Aboriginal South Australians.
• Department for Infrastructure and TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCole Butler, Aboriginal Supply Chain Liaison, participates in the Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee focusing on economic participation.
• Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSandy Pitcher (Chief Executive) co-chairs the Economic Participation working group; Joanne O'Connor participates in over-representation working group. Department leads development of $3 million intervention programs for young offenders.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief Executive Martin Westwell co-chairs the Supporting growth in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations working group within the Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee.
• Department for Energy and MiningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief Executive Paul Heithersay co-chairs the Building capacity in vulnerable families working group of the Aboriginal Affairs Executive Committee.
• Department for Trade and InvestmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief Executive David Reynolds co-chairs the Over-representation of Aboriginal South Australians in the criminal justice sector working group.
• SA Health (Southern Adelaide Local Health Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJudith Lovegrove (Executive Director, Aboriginal Health) co-chairs the Building capacity in vulnerable families working group; Tyrone Hughes participates in economic participation working group.
• Charter HallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter Hall is the building manager for the GPO Exchange and partnered with AGD for the NAIDOC Week 2025 art collaboration event at the Adelaide office.
• Aboriginal Health Council of South AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProceeds from the NAIDOC Week 2025 art auction at AGD will be donated to the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom): UK's national justice ministry overseeing courts, legal aid, and justice policy. Comparable as a developed-commonwealth government legal authority with a broader national scope.
• Attorney-General's Department (Commonwealth of Australia): The federal Attorney-General's Department, which oversees national legal policy, federal prosecution, and inter-jurisdictional coordination. Functions as the federal-level counterpart to SA AGD with broader national scope.

Direct peers

• Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General: Queensland's state AG-equivalent department providing legal services, prosecution support, and justice administration. Directly comparable in scope and statutory mandates to SA AGD.
• NSW Department of Communities and Justice: Largest Australian state justice department, combining justice administration with community services. Operates comparable Crown Solicitor functions, courts policy, and Aboriginal affairs coordination, with a similar service portfolio structure.
• Northern Territory Department of Justice: NT's state-equivalent justice department providing legal services, prosecution, and corrective services. Comparable as a smaller Australian jurisdiction with significant Aboriginal affairs responsibilities.
• Department of Justice (Western Australia): Western Australia's state-level justice department covering prosecution, legal services, forensic science, and corrective services. Comparable in scope and population served to SA AGD.
• Department of Justice (Tasmania): Tasmania's state justice department providing comparable legal, prosecution, and corrective services mandates. Similar in scale as a smaller Australian state jurisdiction.
• Department of Justice and Community Safety (Victoria): Victoria's equivalent state-level justice and legal services department, providing prosecution, legal services, corrections, and community safety functions. Directly comparable as a peer state AG/justice department delivering the same mandates through a parallel structure.
• Justice and Community Safety Directorate (ACT): ACT's combined justice and public safety directorate delivering legal services, prosecution, and corrections. Comparable as a sub-national Australian jurisdiction delivering AG-equivalent functions.

Regional players

• Ministry of Justice (New Zealand): New Zealand's national justice ministry providing legal services, prosecution policy, and justice sector leadership. Comparable in mandate though operating at national scale across a different jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sa_agd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/attorney-general-s-department-sa-official
• Instagraminstagram.com/agd_southaustralia
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Attorney-General's Department