Mark was appointed Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 June 2022.
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP was first elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Isaacs in November 2007.
Mark is a passionate defender of the rule of law, freedom of the press and the need for a powerful and independent national anti-corruption commission.
Mark is a strong advocate for social justice and believes in creating a sustainable economy and environment for future generations.
In 2010, Mark was appointed as Cabinet Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. He worked closely with the Prime Minister and with the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency to tackle climate change, improve our energy efficiency and increase our use of renewable energy.
In February 2013, Mark was appointed as Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management. In March 2013, Mark was given additional responsibilities as the Minister for the Public Service and Integrity and Special Minister of State.
Speaking for the first time as Attorney-General Mark said, "Australia's legal system should provide a framework that allows us to protect and care for all Australians, including our elderly, our sick, our injured, our workers, our new arrivals, our indigenous people, our young and our outspoken writers, artists and journalists."
"The best Attorneys-General are those who seek to ensure that Australian laws reflect our national values of fairness and equality of opportunity."
In his first term, Mark chaired the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and was a member of the House Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
Mark's first speech to Parliament reflected on his experience working for and with Indigenous Australians and his passion for the environment. He spoke of his concern about the planning of our urban environments and the critical importance of the quality of policy, laws, and administration in each of these areas.
Before entering Parliament, Mark was a Melbourne barrister and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1999. He served as an advisor to the Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Planning between 1985 and 1987.
An expert in commercial and planning law, Mark was the Legal Editor of the Victorian Planning Reports and a member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association. He was one of the top defamation lawyers in Victoria.
Mark also appeared for and advised Federal, State and local governments and appeared in several landmark cases in the High Court, including the Stolen Generations litigation.
