The Directorate is responsible for reviewing and developing policy and legislation across the justice and community safety portfolio.
Our law enforcement regime maintains the public safety and social order of the community.
A variety of organisations and programs come together to identify and respond to crime, safety and justice priorities.
Information about the ways we promote, support and protect rights.
All about the Human Rights Act, how it works and the review process.
FOI gives members of the community a legally enforceable right to access documents held by government.
Access to a range of emergency response information.
Our emergency response framework.
Members of our community who respond in emergencies.
Safety considerations and information for personal and family wellbeing.
How we keep our community safe.
Information about the Infrastructure Safety and Security Grants Program.
Business obligations for safe workplaces.
Keeping ACT Government assets and information secure.
A national approach to security preparedness and planning.
How we keep safe on ACT roads.
The Directorate is responsible for legislation dealing with commercial regulation in the ACT.
In the ACT there are rights and responsibilities that regulate how business owners, their staff and their customers interact.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes activities to ensure compliance to regulations.
The Directorate educates the ACT community and industry on regulatory functions and obligations.
The Directorate is responsible to the Attorney-General, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and the Minister for Corrections.
The Directorate plays a vital role in providing information and advice to the Minister and supporting ACT representation in national fora.
The Directorate's responsibility for government activities of justice administration, rights protection, business regulation and emergency services.
ACT Corrective Services delivers adult correctional and detention services.
ACT Courts and Tribunal deliver justice through sentencing in criminal cases and rulings in civil cases.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency is responsible for emergency management planning and response.
The ACT Government Solicitor provides legal advice and services to the ACT Government and its agencies.
The Legislation and Policy Branch provides policy advice and research services to develop ACT policies and legislation.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes registration and business regulation functions.
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office provides legislative drafting and publishing services for ACT legislation.
Policing services in the ACT are purchased from the Australian Federal Police.
The Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for protection and emergency planning for all hazards, including counter-terrorism.
A number of independent statutory agencies are administered under the portfolio umbrella of justice and community safety.
Victim Support ACT provides specialised assistance to help victims of crime participate in the justice process.
The Director of Public Prosecutions provides independent and effective criminal prosecution services.
Elections ACT is responsible for conducting elections and referendums for the ACT.
The ACT Human Rights Commission promotes the human rights and welfare of people living in the ACT.
The Public Advocate protects the interests, rights and dignity of vulnerable people and those with a disability.
The Public Trustee provides independent, professional trustee and asset management services.
The Work Safety Commissioner promotes and educates stakeholders on matters relating to workplace safety in the ACT.
Media information relating to the justice and community safety portfolio.
This section details the ways to contact the Department as well as agency locations.
This section provides access to our searchable database of publications.
New laws are introduced and old ones are changed or repealed for a number of reasons. These may include changes in government which means the Assembly is controlled by a party with different ideas about many matters. A new Assembly may make new laws often as a result of promises made to the people prior to the election.
In addition, Ministers may respond to public opinion by introducing new laws or changing existing ones.
Under the self-government legislation, the Legislative Assembly has the power to make laws. The Executive has the responsibility of governing the Territory and executing and maintaining enactments and subordinate laws.
Most Bills (proposed laws) deal with the business of the Executive and are introduced by a Minister. Bills presented by non-executive Members are known as private Members’ Bills.
The ACT Parliamentary Counsel prepares Bills and regulations for both government and non-government Members.
There are several steps in passing legislation. To become an Act (or law) a Bill must pass through the following stages:
A Minister or Member gives formal notice to the Assembly that a new Bill will be presented. At a later date the Member or Minister presents the Bill in the chamber, the long title of the Bill is read and each other member is given a copy of the new Bill.
The Minister or Member presenting the Bill moves that the Bill be agreed to in principle and makes a presentation speech, which explains the need for the legislation. After a Bill is introduced, debate is usually adjourned to allow Members to get more information about the Bill from experts and members of the community.
Copies of the Bill are made available for sale to the public. When the Bill comes up later for discussion, all Members are entitled to make a speech with the Minister or Member who presented the Bill having the right of reply.
At the conclusion of that debate the Assembly votes on whether it agrees to the Bill in principle. If the Assembly agrees, the Bill may proceed to the detail stage or the detail stage may be dispensed with. If the Assembly disagrees the Bill is negatived. The Assembly may refer a Bill to a committee for inquiry and report.
During this stage the Bill can be considered clause by clause and amendments may be moved. Each Member may speak twice to each proposed amendment. Many Bills are amended in the detail stage. Each clause and amendment must be agreed to by the Assembly.
Finally the Assembly decides whether to pass the Bill with amendments that may have been agreed to during the detail stage. A majority of Members must agree with the Bill for it to be passed.
Once the Bill has been certified as having been passed by the Assembly, it is notified in the Legislation Register and becomes an Act, that is, part of the law of the Australian Capital Territory.
Detailed information about the Assembly's law-making and other business is available in fact sheets produced by the Assembly and available on the Assembly website.
The Legislation Register, which is maintained by the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office, provides information on all ACT Laws.