Solicitor-General of Australia

The Solicitor-General of Australia is the country's second highest-ranking law officer, after the Attorney-General for Australia. The position is often known as the Commonwealth Solicitor-General in order to distinguish it from the state solicitors-general. The current officeholder is Stephen Donaghue, who took office on 16 January 2017 following the resignation of Justin Gleeson.

Solicitor-General of Australia
Incumbent
Stephen Donaghue
since 16 January 2017
Attorney-General's Department
AppointerGovernor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Inaugural holderSir Robert Garran
Formation1916 (1916)

The Commonwealth Solicitor-General gives the Australian federal government legal advice and appears in court to represent the Commonwealth's interest in important legal proceedings, particularly in the High Court. The Solicitor-General notably offered advice to the government and defended members of parliament in court during the Australian Parliamentary eligibility crisis. Unlike the Australian attorney-general or the same position in England and Wales, the solicitor-general is not a member of parliament.

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