List of Australian Government entities

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2022)

|

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Outdated information and general messiness. Please help improve this article if you can. (October 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The talk page may contain suggestions. (October 2019)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

This article is part of a series on the

Politics of
Australia
Constitution

Monarchy

* Monarch

* Charles III

* Governor-General

* Sam Mostyn

Executive

* Prime Minister

* Anthony Albanese (ALP)

* Deputy Prime Minister

* Richard Marles (ALP)

* * *

* Federal Executive Council

* Ministry
* Second Albanese ministry
* Cabinet

Legislature

* Australian Parliament

* * *

* Senate

* President Sue Lines (ALP)

* Leader Penny Wong (ALP)

* * *

* House of Representatives

* Speaker Milton Dick (ALP)

* Leader Tony Burke (ALP)

* * *

* Opposition

* Leader Sussan Ley (LP)

* Shadow Ministry

Judiciary

* High Court of Australia

* Chief Justice Stephen Gageler

* Keane
* Gordon
* Edelman
* Steward
* Gleeson
* Beech-Jones

* * *

* Federal Court of Australia

* Chief Justice Debra Mortimer

* List of Judges

* * *

* Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

* Chief Justice Will Alstergren

* List of Judges

* * *

* State and territory courts
* Australian legal system

Elections

* Recent elections

* 2025
* 2022
* 2019
* 2016
* 2013
* 2010

* * *

* Federal electoral system
* Electoral divisions
* By-elections
* Referendums and plebiscites

* * *

* Voter registration
* Leadership spill
* Political parties
* Political funding

States and territories

* Governors and administrators
* Premiers and chief ministers
* Parliaments and assemblies

* * *

* State courts
* State electoral systems

Local government

* NSW
* Vic
* Qld
* WA
* SA
* Tas
* NT
* Political parties

Foreign relations

* Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

* Foreign Minister Penny Wong

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Australia

* * *

* Nationality law
* Passports
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

* * *

* Australia and the United Nations

* * *

* G20
* APEC

* * *

* New Zealand
* United Kingdom
* United States
* Canada
* European Union
* China
* India

Ideologies

* Anarchism
* Christian
* Conservatism
* Environmentalism
* Far-right
* Hansonism
* Liberalism
* Monarchism
* Multiculturalism
* Nationalism
* Republicanism
* Secularism
* Socialism

Australia portal

* New South Wales
* Victoria
* Queensland
* Western Australia
* South Australia
* Tasmania
* Australian Capital Territory
* Northern Territory

* v
* t
* e

This list of Australian Government entities includes ministerial departments, principal entities, secondary entities, and other entities, which are grouped into a number of areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by one or more government ministers who are members of the federal parliament, appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister.[1]

As of December 2023, there are 1,334 government entities reportable to the Australian Government Organisations Register. This includes:[2][3]

* 191 "principal" entities, including non-corporate Commonwealth entities (such as the 20 cabinet departments), corporate Commonwealth entities, and Commonwealth companies
* 693 "secondary" entities, such as advisory bodies, ministerial forums, and statutory offices
* 450 "other" entities, such as subsidiaries of government companies, joint ventures, national law bodies, and bodies linked through statutory contracts, agreements or delegations

## Principal entities

[edit]

Principal entities are Australian Government entities that are defined in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2011 as either a:

* Principal non-corporate Commonwealth entity - such as a cabinet department
* Principal corporate Commonwealth entity - such as the CSIRO or Reserve Bank of Australia
* Commonwealth company - such as NBN Co or Aboriginal Hostels Limited

### Cabinet departments

[edit]

As of 13 May 2025[update], the Australian Government comprises 16 portfolio departments, each representing a seat in the federal cabinet and leading its respective portfolio area:[4][2]

* Attorney-General's Department
* Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
* Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
* Department of Defence
* Department of Education
* Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
* Department of Finance
* Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
* Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
* Department of Home Affairs
* Department of Industry, Science and Resources
* Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
* Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
* Department of Social Services
* Department of the Treasury
* Department of Veterans' Affairs

Separate to the 16 cabinet departments, there are also four parliamentary departments which are not cabinet portfolios:[4]

* Department of the House of Representatives
* Department of Parliamentary Services
* Department of the Senate
* Parliamentary Budget Office

### Other principal entities

[edit]

There are 171 principal entities other than the cabinet departments. These government agencies are classified by the Australian Government Organisations Register as either a non-corporate Commonwealth entity, a corporate Commonwealth entity, or a Commonwealth company.[2]

Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entities  Portfolio | Agencies

|

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |

* Australian Fisheries Management Authority

Attorney-General's |

* Administrative Appeals Tribunal
* Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
* Australian Federal Police
* Australian Financial Security Authority
* Australian Institute of Criminology
* Australian Law Reform Commission
* Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre
* Federal Court of Australia
* National Anti-Corruption Commission
* Office of Parliamentary Counsel
* Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
* Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman
* Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
* Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
* Office of the Special Investigator

Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water |

* Bureau of Meteorology
* Clean Energy Regulator
* Climate Change Authority
* Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Defence |

* Australian Signals Directorate
* Australian Submarine Agency

Education |

* Australian Research Council
* Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency

Employment and Workplace Relations |

* Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency
* Australian Skills Quality Authority
* Fair Work Commission
* Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman
* Safe Work Australia
* Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority

Finance |

* Australian Electoral Commission
* Digital Transformation Agency
* Future Fund Management Agency
* Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority
* Parliamentary Workplace Support Service

Foreign Affairs and Trade |

* Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
* Australian Secret Intelligence Service
* Austrade (Australian Trade and Investment Commission)

Health and Aged Care |

* Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
* Australian National Preventive Health Agency
* Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
* Cancer Australia
* National Blood Authority
* National Health and Medical Research Council
* National Health Funding Body
* National Mental Health Commission
* Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care
* Organ and Tissue Authority
* Professional Services Review
* Sport Integrity Australia

Home Affairs |

* Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
* National Emergency Management Agency

Industry, Science and Resources |

* Geoscience Australia
* IP Australia

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts |

* Australian Communications and Media Authority
* Australian Transport Safety Bureau
* National Archives of Australia
* National Capital Authority
* High Speed Rail Authority

Prime Minister and Cabinet |

* Australian National Audit Office
* Australian Public Service Commission
* National Indigenous Australians Agency
* Office of National Intelligence
* Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
* Workplace Gender Equality Agency

Social Services |

* Australian Institute of Family Studies
* Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission
* NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
* Services Australia

Treasury |

* Australian Bureau of Statistics
* Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
* Australian Office of Financial Management
* Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
* Australian Securities and Investments Commission
* Australian Taxation Office
* Commonwealth Grants Commission
* Inspector-General of Taxation
* National Competition Council
* Office of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board
* Office of the Australian Accounting Standards Board
* Productivity Commission
* Royal Australian Mint

Corporate Commonwealth Entities  Portfolio | Companies

|

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
Attorney-General's  |
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water  |
Defence  |
Education  |
Employment and Workplace Relations  |
Finance  | Reserve Bank of Australia
Foreign Affairs and Trade  |
Health and Aged Care  |
Industry, Science and Resources  | CSIRO
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts  |
Prime Minister and Cabinet  |
Social Services  |
Treasury  |
Veterans' Affairs  |
Commonwealth Companies  Portfolio | Companies

|

Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water |

* Snowy Hydro Ltd

Defence |

* AAF Company (Trustee of Army Amenities Fund and Messes Trust Fund)
* Australian Strategic Policy Institute Limited
* RAAF Welfare Recreational Company
* Defence Housing Australia

Education |

* Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited

Finance |

* ASC Pty Ltd
* Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd
* Note Printing Australia

Health and Aged Care |

* Australian Sports Foundation Limited

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts |

* Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited
* Bundanon Trust
* National Intermodal Corporation Limited
* NBN Co Limited
* WSA Co Limited
* Australia Post
* Airservices Australia

Prime Minister and Cabinet |

* Aboriginal Hostels Limited
* National Australia Day Council Limited
* Outback Stores Pty Ltd

## Secondary entities

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2025)

|

## Other entities

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2025)

|

## History of government departments

[edit]

### September 2013

[edit]

On 18 September 2013 an Administrative Arrangements Order was issued by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister Tony Abbott[5] which replaced the previous Order of 14 September 2010 issued by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Gillard government.[6][7] The Order formed or re-confirmed government departments, as follows:

* The Department of Agriculture replacing the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
* The Attorney-General's Department, assuming the arts functions previously managed by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
* The Department of Communications replacing the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
* The Department of Defence
* The Department of Education replacing some of the functions of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
* The Department of Employment replacing some of the function of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
* The Department of the Environment replacing the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
* The Department of Finance replacing the Department of Finance and Deregulation
* The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, assuming the tourism functions previously managed by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
* The Department of Health replacing the Department of Health and Ageing and assuming the sport functions previously managed by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
* The Department of Human Services
* The Department of Immigration and Border Protection replacing most of the functions of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
* The Department of Industry replacing most of the functions of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
* The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development replacing the Department of Infrastructure and Transport and most of the functions of the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
* The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, assuming the indigenous affairs functions previously managed by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
* The Department of Social Services replacing the majority of the functions of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
* The Department of the Treasury
* The Department of Veterans' Affairs

### September 2015

[edit]

Following the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister, three departments were renamed, with effect from 21 September 2015:[8]

* The Department of Agriculture became the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
* The Department of Industry and Science became the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
* The Department of Communications became the Department of Communications and the Arts

### July 2016

[edit]

Following the election of the Turnbull government, the Department of the Environment was renamed, with effect from 19 July 2016:[9][10]

* The Department of the Environment became the Department of the Environment and Energy

### December 2017

[edit]

Some departments were renamed, with effect from 20 December 2017:[11]

* The Department of Employment became the Department of Jobs and Small Business
* The Department of Immigration and Border Protection became the Department of Home Affairs
* The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development became the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities

### May 2019

[edit]

Following the election of the Morrison government, five departments were renamed, with effect from 29 May 2019:[12]

* The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources became the Department of Agriculture
* The Department of Education and Training became the Department of Education
* The Department of Human Services became Services Australia.
* The Department of Jobs and Small Business became the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
* The Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities became the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development

### February 2020

[edit]

The number of departments were cut from 18 to 14, with effect from 1 February 2020:[13][14]

* The Department of Education and Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business (except small business functions) merged to form the Department of Education, Skills and Employment
* The Department of Agriculture and environment functions of the Department of the Environment and Energy merged to form the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
* The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, energy functions from the Department of the Environment and Energy and small business functions from the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business merged to form the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
* The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development and Department of Communications and the Arts merged to form the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
* Services Australia (the former Department of Human Services) was established as an executive agency within the Department of Social Services

### July 2022

[edit]

The new Albanese government made the following modifications and increased the number of departments to 16, with effect from 1 July 2022:[15][16][17]

* The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment was split into the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, with latter taking over energy functions from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
* The Department of Education, Skills and Employment was split into the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
* The Department of Health was renamed the Department of Health and Aged Care
* The policing, criminal justice and protective services functions were transferred from the Department of Home Affairs to the Attorney-General's Department.
* The natural disaster management functions including the National Recovery and Resilience Agency were transferred from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Department of Home Affairs
* The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources was renamed the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, with energy functions transferred to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
* The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications was renamed the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

### May 2025

[edit]

The Albanese government renamed two departments, and transferred responsibilities between departments, with effect from 13 May 2025:[18][19]

* The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts was renamed the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, with sport and recreation policy and functions transferred from the Department of Health and Aged Care, while land and planning policy and cities and urban policy transferred to the Treasury
* The Department of Health and Aged Care was renamed the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, with the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Foundational Supports transferred from the Department of Social Services
* Transfer of policies and operations between existing departments:
* responsibility for law enforcement policy and operations transferred from the Attorney-General's Department to Department of Home Affairs
* responsibility for bankruptcy, personal property securities and consumer credit reporting transferred from the Attorney-General's Department to the Treasury
* housing, rental and homelessness policy from the Department of Social Services to the Treasury
* construction industry policy and regulation from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources to the Treasury
* transfers the Net Zero Economy Authority from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources

## See also

[edit]

* Australian state equivalents
* New South Wales government agencies
* South Australian government departments
* Tasmanian government departments
* Victorian government agencies
* Queensland government departments
* Western Australian government agencies

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Infosheet 20 - The Australian system of government". About Parliament: House of Representatives. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
2. ^ a b c "Australian Government Organisations Registry Quarterly Report". Department of Finance. 21 February 2024 [31 December 2023]. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
3. ^ "Australian Government Organisations Register - Types of Bodies". Department of Finance. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
4. ^ a b "Portfolios". Australian Government Directory. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
5. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
6. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2013.
7. ^ "Australian Government Directory". Australian Government. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
8. ^ Minute Paper for the Executive Council, Executive Council Meeting No. 21 (PDF), Federal Executive Council, 21 September 2015, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016, retrieved 28 June 2016
9. ^ Administrative Arrangements Order – amendment made 19 July 2016, Australian Government, archived from the original on 30 August 2016
10. ^ Administrative Arrangements Order, Australian Government, 19 July 2016, retrieved 30 August 2016
11. ^ "Amendments to the Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Australian Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
12. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order Summary of changes - 29 May 2019" (PDF). Australian Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
13. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order made on 5 December 2019 with effect from 1 February 2020". Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
14. ^ "Scott Morrison to sack top bureaucrats and dismantle departments in wide-ranging public sector overhaul". ABC News. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
15. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order made on 23 June 2022" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 23 June 2022.
16. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order made on 1 June 2022" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2022. p. 49,50.
17. ^ "Albanese government restores abolished environment department but avoids major public service overhaul". ABC News. 2 June 2022.
18. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order - 13 May 2025". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
19. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

* v
* t
* e

List of Australian Government departments

Australian Government

Portfolio departments|

* Attorney-General's Department
* Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
* Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
* Defence
* Education
* Employment and Workplace Relations
* Finance
* Foreign Affairs and Trade
* Health, Disability and Ageing
* Home Affairs
* Industry, Science and Resources
* Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
* Prime Minister and Cabinet
* Social Services
* Treasury
* Veterans' Affairs

Parliamentary departments|

* House of Representatives
* Parliamentary Budget Office
* Parliamentary Services
* Senate

* v
* t
* e

Australian Government Agencies and Bodies

Defence and National Security|

* Australian Defence Force
* Royal Australian Navy
* Australian Army
* Royal Australian Air Force
* Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
* Australian Signals Directorate
* Defence Intelligence Organisation

Law Enforcement and Justice|

* Australian Federal Police
* Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
* Australian Border Force
* Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
* Attorney-General's Department

Regulation and Finance|

* Australian Taxation Office
* Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
* Australian Securities and Investments Commission
* Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
* Australian Energy Regulator
* Productivity Commission

Health and Safety|

* Department of Health and Aged Care
* Therapeutic Goods Administration
* Food Standards Australia New Zealand
* Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
* Safe Work Australia

Environment and Climate|

* Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
* Clean Energy Regulator
* Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Social Services and Employment|

* Services Australia
* National Disability Insurance Agency
* Department of Social Services
* Fair Work Ombudsman
* Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Education and Research|

* Department of Education
* Australian Research Council
* Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency

Technology, Infrastructure and Transport|

* Australian Space Agency
* Australian Communications and Media Authority
* Airservices Australia
* Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Civic and Oversight Bodies|

* Australian Electoral Commission
* Australian Bureau of Statistics
* Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
* Australian Human Rights Commission
* Commonwealth Ombudsman
* National Archives of Australia

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template