South Australian Attorney-General's Department

 

Freedom of Information Act 1991

Information Statement

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 (the Act), the following details are provided as part of the Information Statement of the Attorney-General’s Department which is an agency as defined under Section 4(1)(e) of the Act. Subject to certain restrictions, the Act gives members of the public a legally enforceable right to access information held by the South Australian Government. A comprehensive introduction to freedom of information can be found on the State Records website at www.archives.sa.gov.au.

Structure and Function of the Attorney-General’s Department.

The structure and functions of the Attorney-General’s Department consists of the following divisions and units.

Office of the Chief Executive

  • Executive Management and Administration
    Responsible for the provision of executive and administrative support, advice and assurance to the Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department and Department of Justice.
  • Justice Internal Audit
    Provide independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the agency’s operations.
  • Risk Adviser
    Assists in developing and maintaining a risk profile to ensure an integrated risk management and control environment within the organisation; providing reasonable assurance that the organisation will achieve its objectives with an acceptable degree of residual risk.

Crown Solicitor’s Office
Provides legal services and advice to the Government of South Australia where there is significant need for public sector perspective, or where the work is otherwise in the public interest.

Office of Parliamentary Counsel
Provides the Government with comprehensive services for the drafting and development of legislation and the provision and publication of advice and information about legislation.

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Initiates and conducts criminal prosecutions in the Supreme and District Courts. Conducts all appellate work and exercises appellate rights flowing from those prosecutions, in the confiscations of the profits of crime; enters a nolle prosequi or otherwise terminated a prosecution in appropriate cases; conducts committal proceedings and some summary trials in the Magistrates’ Court and conducts appeals from the indictable matters handled in that Court; and carries out other functions assigned to the Director by regulation.

Commissioner for Victims’ Rights
Advises the Attorney-General on marshalling available government resources so they can be applied for the benefit of victims of crime in the most efficient and effective way and carries out functions related to the Victims of Crime Act 2001 assigned by the Attorney-General.

Building Communities Division

  • Office for Racing
    Provides developmental support to the racing industry through the following functions:
    - provide high level and timely advice to Government on the development of racing industry legislation, policies, programs and major events
    - research and monitor trends in the racing industry for the timely uptake of new and emerging opportunities
    - provide effective communication and continually consult and liaise with key stakeholder groups, peak bodies, relevant business sectors and Government agencies on issues affecting the racing industry in SA.
  • Office for Recreation and Sport
    The lead agency for the implementation of the South Australian government's policy on recreation and sport. The Office funds sporting and recreation organisations and providers, supports state, regional and local associations, implements policy and programs, leads recreation and sport planning, manages facilities, provides services for elite sport and promotes physical activity in all age groups.
  • Office for Volunteers
    Provides advise to the South Australian Government for the development of policies to develop and support the South Australian volunteering sector.
  • Office for Women
    Works towards achieving gender equity and positive change for women by collaborating across government and the community. Works closely with women’s groups and organisations, as well as the government’s advisory group on women’s issues.
  • Justice Youth Reform
    Undertakes research, development and implementation of policy objectives and strategies to support the Government’s youth justice agenda, in particular the Department’s responsibilities in relation to the 2007 report on serious repeat offending by young people To Break the Cycle.
  • Office for Youth
    Develops collaborative youth policy solutions and supports all young South Australians reach their full potential through youth development programs and initiatives that engage and provide opportunities for young people.

Finance and Business Services Division

  • Administrative Services
  • Library
  • Strategic and Financial Services
    Provides financial management, accounting and transaction processing services to the business units that make up the Attorney-General’s Department.
  • Guardianship Board
    On request, exercises authority for the benefit of persons who, as a result of mental incapacity, are able to look after their own health, safety or welfare or to manage their own financial affairs.
  • Justice of the Peace Services
    Responsible for the administration of Justices of the Peace (JPs) applications and appointments in South Australia. It also maintains a Roll with the contact details of all JPs and provides the community with access to JP services throughout South Australia.
  • Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
    Regulates the trading environment so that consumers can be confident that they will be treated fairly when buying goods or services.
  • Office of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner
    Promote equality of opportunity for all South Australians through the administration of anti-discrimination legislation. The Office also provides information on equal opportunity; examines and responds to complaints of discrimination and harassment; and provides education and training to encourage compliance with the legislation.
  • Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner
    Responsible for exercising statutory functions under the Liquor Licensing Act 1997, the Casino Act 1997, the Gaming Machines Act 1992, the Authorised Betting Operations Act 2000, the Racing (Proprietary Business Licensing) Act 2000, Lottery and Gaming Act 1936 and Collections for Charitable Purposes Act 1939 and the various duty and licensing agreements under those Acts.
  • Office of the Ombudsman
    Provides free, impartial, informal and timely resolution of complaints to promote fairness, openness and good public administration in South Australia pursuant to the Ombudsman Act 1972.
  • Office of the Public Advocate
    Promotes and protects the rights of South Australians who have a mental incapacity pursuant to the Guardianship and Administration Act 1993.
  • Public Trustee
    Under the provisions of Section 5(2) of the Public Trustee Act 1995, the Public Trustee may act as a trustee, executor of a will, administrator of an estate (whether or not of a deceased person), manager, receiver, committee, curator, guardian, next friend, agency, attorney or stakeholder. It provides personal estate services, investment services, taxation, real estate, public education, Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Guardianship.

Justice Business Services Division

  • Business Operations
  • Customer Service Technology
  • Justice Technology Services
  • Major Initiatives
  • Program and Planning
    The role and functions of JBS encompass both the Attorney-General’s Department and the wider Justice Portfolio in the provision of information technology, facilities management, asset management, contract management and procurement services.
  • Public Safety Communications
    Delivering projects that meet the core information and communications needs of the police, ambulance and emergency services including the SA Computer Aided Dispatch (SACAD) and SA Government Radio Network (SAGRN) projects.
  • Forensic Science South Australia
    Provides a wide range of impartial and independent pathology and forensic science services to the justice system and other government agencies, in the areas of biology, chemistry and materials, pathology and toxicology.

People Capital Division

  • Human Resources
    Provides a human resource consultancy service to business units within the Department. This includes policy development, recruitment and selection training and development, Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare, rehabilitation of injured workers, employee relations, workforce planning and reporting, equal opportunity initiatives and conditions of employment.
  • Corporate Communications Unit
    Provides communications, public relations and marketing services for the Department of Justice and the Attorney-General’s Department.

Policy, Planning and Legislation Division

  • Legislation and Legal Policy
    Provides specialist legal advice to the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice in addition to developing and reviewing legislative proposals affecting legislation for which the Attorney-General is responsible.
  • Policy and Research
    Undertakes research, develops policy and provides advice in priority areas identified by the Attorney-General and the Chief Executive, including Aboriginal justice, mental health and crime prevention.
  • Strategic Planning and Crime Statistics
    Comprises the Strategic Planning and Reporting Unit, which facilitates the development and monitoring of strategic plans for the Justice Portfolio and the Attorney-General’s Department; and the Office of Crime Statistics and Research, which undertakes monitoring, research and evaluation into crime an the criminal justice system, provides an evidence base for the criminal justice policy development and improved public understanding of crime and justice issues.

Multicultural SA
Advises the South Australian Government on multicultural and ethnic affairs, promotes multiculturalism and supports the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission.

Native Title Claim Resolution Unit
Negotiates resolution of native title claims with Aboriginal native title claimants, pastoralists, commercial fishers, mineral and petroleum businesses, local government bodies and others affected by those claims; managing the State’s response to claims before the Federal Court; and arranging for the Government and public sector agencies to receive advice from the Crown Solicitor’s Office on native title matters and other statutes about Aboriginal matters.


Effect of the Department’s functions on members of the public

The functions of the Department affect the public both directly, in the form of service delivery to the community, and indirectly, through the Department’s policy, procedures and strategic plan.

Public participation in agency policy

There are no formal arrangements that enable members of the public to participate in the formulation of the agency’s policies and the exercises of the agency’s functions. Public consultation is undertaken when a policy is being formulated and when it is deemed appropriate.

Description of the kinds of documents held by the Attorney-General’s Department

Documents held by the Attorney-General’s Department fall into a number of broad categories. The listing of these categories does not necessarily mean that all documents are accessible in full or in part under the Act. These categories include:

  • Corporate files containing correspondence, memoranda, minutes and documentation on all aspects of the Department’s operations.
  • Policies, procedures and guidelines prescribing the way various activities and programs are to be performed.
  • Personnel files relating to the Department’s employees.
  • Accounting and financial files and reports relating to the running of the Department.
  • Legal files.
  • Minutes of meetings and terms of reference.
  • Research and statistical reports relating to crime and criminal justice in South Australia.

Please note that several divisions of the Attorney-General’s Department are exempt under Schedule 2 of the Act.

Access to agency documents

Requests under the Freedom of Information Act 1991 for access to documents of amendment of records concerning personal affairs in the possession of the Attorney-General’s Department should be directed in writing to:

Freedom of Information Officer, Attorney-General’s Department, GPO Box 464, ADELAIDE SA 5001
Telephone: 82071555

Download the Freedom of Information - Request for Access Form

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