Director of Public Prosecutions (Australia)

Founded on 8 March 1984 to prosecute alleged offences against Commonwealth criminal law, primarily the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) and Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), the CDPP was first headed by Director Ian Temby, who remained in that post until 1988. The CDPP commenced with a head office in Canberra, and a Melbourne office was opened on 6 June 1984, assuming responsibility for the work of Special Prosecutor Robert Redlich.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdpp.gov.au/Director/Speeches/20090305jh-a-brief-history-of-the-CDPP.aspx|title=A brief history of the CDPP|first=Jaala|last=Hinchcliffe|date=5 March 2009|publisher=Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions|access-date=19 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717044056/http://www.cdpp.gov.au/Director/Speeches/20090305jh-a-brief-history-of-the-CDPP.aspx|archive-date=17 July 2013|url-status=dead}} The CDPP took over the work of the Special Prosecutors to prosecute bottom of the harbour tax cases and parts of the Attorney-General's Departments Deputy Crown Solicitor's Offices.{{cite web |last=Twigg |first=Karen |date=29 July 1996 |title=An Insider's View of the DPP |url=http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/policewomen/twigg.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807011448/http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/policewomen/twigg.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2016}}

The CDPP has been noted for its gender-blind hiring and work practices.

The agency has only one outcome; "Contribute to a fair, safe and just society by delivering an effective, independent prosecution service in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth". It upholds this function by carrying out prosecutions of crimes against the Commonwealth, and by providing advice to referring agencies.

It has no investigative power or function, and the decision to investigate matters and refer matters to the CDPP is at the discretion of referring agency. Furthermore, the CDPP depends on referring agencies to investigate alleged offences and prepare briefs of evidence to support prosecution and assets recovery.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdpp.gov.au/AboutUs/InvestigatingAgencies.aspx|title=The CDPP and Investigating Agencies|publisher=Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions|access-date=19 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509111422/http://www.cdpp.gov.au/AboutUs/InvestigatingAgencies.aspx|archive-date=9 May 2013|url-status=dead}}

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is based in the head office in Canberra and has offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Townsville. Most offices include a Fraud and Specialist Agencies branch, a Serious Financial and Corporate Crime branch, a Human Exploitation and Border Protection branch and an Organised Crime and National Security branch.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdpp.gov.au/our-national-practice|title=Our National Practice|publisher=Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions|access-date=9 December 2024}}

Although the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is within the portfolio of the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Office operates independently of the Attorney-General and of the political process. The Attorney-General, as First Law Officer of Australia, is responsible for the Commonwealth criminal justice system and remains accountable to Parliament for decisions made in the prosecution process, notwithstanding that those decisions are now in fact made by the Director and lawyers of the CDPP. Under section 8 of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983 (Cth),{{cite web | url=http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A02830 | title=Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983 | date=23 May 2018 }} the Attorney-General has power to issue guidelines and directions to the CDPP; however, that can only be done after there has been consultation between the Attorney-General and the Director. Per the Act, any guidelines or directions must be in writing, published in the Gazette, and tabled in Parliament. The CDPP has been directed by the Attorney-General only thrice, none of which were in relation to a specific case.

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• Director of Public Prosecutions (New South Wales)
• Director of Public Prosecutions (Victoria)

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• {{Official website|http://www.cdpp.gov.au/}}

Category:1984 establishments in Australia

Category:Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia

Commonwealth