Law, justice & securityAgencyExists today
Office of Parliamentary Counsel
OPC
1970 – present
Drafts the Australian Government's bills and, since 2012, many of its legislative instruments, and publishes Commonwealth legislation through the Federal Register of Legislation.
How it came into existence
Established by the Parliamentary Counsel Act 1970 as a statutory office headed by the First Parliamentary Counsel, taking over the drafting of bills previously done by the parliamentary drafting staff of the Attorney-General's Department.
- Drafting of bills
Legislation: Parliamentary Counsel Act 1970
Changes during its life
- Drafting of legislative instruments
- Publishing of Commonwealth legislation
The department's Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing moved to OPC.
Main functions
- Drafting government bills and amendments
- Drafting legislative instruments
- Publishing Commonwealth legislation
- Maintaining the Federal Register of Legislation
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Attorney-General's
- Accountable authority
- First Parliamentary Counsel – Parliamentary Counsel Act 1970 section 2(5)(b)
- ABN
- 41 425 630 817
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.