Premier & Cabinet

Type:
Premier's Memorandum
Identifier:
M2005-02
Status:
Archived

M2005-02 Australian Government Solicitor Acting for NSW Government Agencies

Description

The Australian Government Solicitor provides legal services to the Commonwealth. Under the Judiciary Act 1903 (Commonwealth) [55K and 55N (2)] the Australian Government Solicitor may also provide legal and related services to a State or Territory government body if a request is received from the executive government of the relevant State or Territory.

Detailed Outline

The Australian Government Solicitor provides legal services to the Commonwealth.

Under the Judiciary Act 1903 (Commonwealth) [55K and 55N (2)] the Australian Government Solicitor may also provide legal and related services to a State or Territory government body if a request is received from the executive government of the relevant State or Territory.

The Australian Government Solicitor is subject to Legal Services Directions issued by the Commonwealth Attorney-General [Judiciary Act 1903 (Commonwealth) s55ZF(1)]. These Directions are a set of binding rules issued by the Attorney-General about the performance of legal work for the Commonwealth.

Should the Australian Government Solicitor act for a NSW Government agency in a particular matter then the Australian Government Solicitor and the State agency, as a client of the Australian Government Solicitor, must comply with any Legal Services Directions issued by the Commonwealth Attorney-General.

This clearly has the potential for a conflict of interest to arise, particularly where the interests of the Commonwealth and the State might differ in relation to a legal matter.

In order for NSW Government agencies to avoid situations where a conflict of interest may arise and in order to ensure that the necessary procedural requirements for engaging the Australian Government Solicitor are met, the written approval of the Director-General of the Attorney General's Department should be obtained by a NSW Government agency before the agency decides to retain the Australian Government Solicitor for legal services.

Any queries relating to the requirement to obtain the Director-General's approval should be directed to the Director of Legal Management Services in the Attorney General's Department on 9228 8433.


Bob Carr MP
Premier

Overview

Compliance

Not Mandatory

AR Details

Date Issued
Jan 31, 2005
Review Date
Dec 31, 2014
Replaces
Replaced By

Contacts

Contact
Contact us
Phone
02 9228 5555
Publishing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Issuing Entity
Premier