The Directorate is responsible for reviewing and developing policy and legislation across the justice and community safety portfolio.
Our law enforcement regime maintains the public safety and social order of the community.
A variety of organisations and programs come together to identify and respond to crime, safety and justice priorities.
Information about the ways we promote, support and protect rights.
All about the Human Rights Act, how it works and the review process.
FOI gives members of the community a legally enforceable right to access documents held by government.
Access to a range of emergency response information.
Our emergency response framework.
Members of our community who respond in emergencies.
Safety considerations and information for personal and family wellbeing.
How we keep our community safe.
Information about the Infrastructure Safety and Security Grants Program.
Business obligations for safe workplaces.
Keeping ACT Government assets and information secure.
A national approach to security preparedness and planning.
How we keep safe on ACT roads.
The Directorate is responsible for legislation dealing with commercial regulation in the ACT.
In the ACT there are rights and responsibilities that regulate how business owners, their staff and their customers interact.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes activities to ensure compliance to regulations.
The Directorate educates the ACT community and industry on regulatory functions and obligations.
The Directorate is responsible to the Attorney-General, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and the Minister for Corrections.
The Directorate plays a vital role in providing information and advice to the Minister and supporting ACT representation in national fora.
The Directorate's responsibility for government activities of justice administration, rights protection, business regulation and emergency services.
ACT Corrective Services delivers adult correctional and detention services.
ACT Courts and Tribunal deliver justice through sentencing in criminal cases and rulings in civil cases.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency is responsible for emergency management planning and response.
The ACT Government Solicitor provides legal advice and services to the ACT Government and its agencies.
The Legislation and Policy Branch provides policy advice and research services to develop ACT policies and legislation.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes registration and business regulation functions.
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office provides legislative drafting and publishing services for ACT legislation.
Policing services in the ACT are purchased from the Australian Federal Police.
The Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for protection and emergency planning for all hazards, including counter-terrorism.
A number of independent statutory agencies are administered under the portfolio umbrella of justice and community safety.
Victim Support ACT provides specialised assistance to help victims of crime participate in the justice process.
The Director of Public Prosecutions provides independent and effective criminal prosecution services.
Elections ACT is responsible for conducting elections and referendums for the ACT.
The victims of Crime Commissioner advocates for victims of crime and is responsible for delivering services to victims of crime
The ACT Human Rights Commission promotes the human rights and welfare of people living in the ACT.
The Public Advocate protects the interests, rights and dignity of vulnerable people and those with a disability.
The Public Trustee provides independent, professional trustee and asset management services.
The Work Safety Commissioner promotes and educates stakeholders on matters relating to workplace safety in the ACT.
Media information relating to the justice and community safety portfolio.
This section details the ways to contact the Department as well as agency locations.
This section provides access to our searchable database of publications.
ACT Road Safety information provided on these pages includes the ACT Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan and Crash Statistics. Subsequent pages provide much more road safety information organised according to "Safe System" principles. A safe transport system requires responsible road user behaviour, but also makes allowance for human error and recognises that there are limits to the forces that humans can withstand in a crash.
The Safe System approach relies on – safe speeds, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, as well as safe people and safe behaviours.
For example, Safe People and Safe Behaviours includes safety issues for Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Motorcyclists, Young and Novice Drivers, Older Drivers, Impaired Road Users, Heavy Vehicle Safety as well as Road Safety Advertising and Brochures.
>> More information is available from the Safe System links above or the section choices to the right.
NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust 2014-15 Grant Program – Call for applications now open!
Applications are invited from individuals and organisations wishing to apply for funding for road safety related projects and initiatives from the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust under the 2014-15 Grant Program. The Trust is jointly funded by NRMA Insurance and the ACT Government's road safety levy and its main objective is to enhance road safety for the ACT and region road-using community. The grant application form and guidelines for applicants are available on the Trust website – www.roadsafetytrust.org.au (Grant Applications section). Applications close on Tuesday, 12 March 2014.
Final Implementation Status Report for the ACT Road Safety Action Plan 2011–13 released
The final implementation status report for the ACT Road Safety Action Plan 2011–13 [.PDF 1 MB] is now available.
The 2011–13 Action Plan includes 62 action items which are grouped into five areas of activity – safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles, safe people and support measures. This report provides an update on each of these action items, as well as 2012 and 2013 crash statistics and other performance measures.
The detailed status report identifies the key agency responsibilities for each action item and provides a summary of progress to date. Colour-coded markers are used to indicate whether actions are national projects, complete / implemented ongoing programs, commenced and progressing or whether they require more attention.
2013 ACT Road Safety Community Survey released
A report on the 2013 ACT Road Safety Community Survey is now available. The survey report details the results of the Government’s 2013 community road safety survey which involved a telephone poll of 1,000 ACT residents who were selected using a computer based random selection of the White Pages.
The survey covered a range of road safety issues, including speeding, drink driving, driver distraction and vulnerable road users.
2013 ACT Road Safety Community Survey [.pdf 1.873mb]
‘Don’t let the Team Down’ campaign
New road safety commercials will appear on local television screens encouraging drivers to put away their mobile phone. The Government’s 2010 Community Road Safety Survey found that 17% of those surveyed reported using a handheld mobile phone when driving – with 5% of these drivers stating that they do this all the time.The campaign includes two separate television commercials which feature a rugby and a cricket match that are lost by a player who is distracted by their mobile phone.
The ACT Road Safety Report Card for 2012 has been tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The report includes an overview of ACT Road Safety Strategy action items that were either completed or substantially progressed in 2012, as well as performance data and road safety issues relating to vulnerable road users, and young and novice drivers.The action items discussed in the report include the introduction of reduced speed limits in areas of high conflict with vulnerable road users, infrastructure improvements for cyclists, the implementation of mandatory training for novice motorcyclists, and the development of legislation for the introduction of alcohol interlocks.
The ACT Road Safety Report Card for 2012 [.PDF 2.1 mb]
Review of ACT Graduated Licensing Scheme
A review of the ACT Graduated Licensing Scheme is being conducted in response to the continued over-representation of novice drivers in ACT road crash data and recent evaluations which have shown the benefits of additional GLS components in other jurisdictions. >>Read More
Back to School – 40kmh in School Zones!
ACT school zones will be active again from the 3rd February 2014 with the commencement of Term 1.All road users are urged to take special care when driving through school zones or anywhere children travel on their way to school. To remind all road users of their obligations the “Speed – 40kmh School Zone” campaign was broadcast on TV, radio and facebook with further support using roadside visual message signs. ACT Policing will continue to provide enforcement support throughout the school term.
Reminder examples: TV (mov, wmv), Radio, Print
This summer the Kings Highway Partnership* urges all drivers to take care if driving interstate during the holiday season. Interstate road conditions can vary dramatically, particularly if the weather conditions change.
Speed, especially on unfamiliar roads raises risks to the safety of all travelers.
Speed is not the only factor affecting road safety. Drink driving and Fatigue are also factors. If planning a celebratory drink over the holiday season, remember to arrange alternate transport so that you will not be tempted to drive, and if travelling any significant distance remember to rest well before the trip, and take a break every two hours or share the driving if possible.
Alert, focused and careful drivers will help keep themselves and other travelers safe.
So, if the roads are wet, if it is difficult to see clearly, please slow down, obey the speed limit and advisory signs and drive to the road conditions to arrive safely.
*(The ACT Government through the JACS Road Safety Unit is an active member of the Kings Highway Partnership, with other members drawn from ACT and NSW Police, regional Council and road authority representatives and the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust.)
The ACT’s first point-to-point safety cameras on Hindmarsh Drive (between Tyagarah Street, O’Malley and Dalrymple Street, Red Hill) commenced operating from 27 February 2012.
Infringements for speeding offences were be issued from this date.
Point-to-point cameras have shown to be effective at reducing speeds and serious crashes in jurisdictions where they have been installed.
The introduction of point-to-point cameras complements existing approaches to speed limit enforcement under the ACT Road Safety Strategy, including targeted police campaigns.
>> Read More
ACT drivers who are convicted or found guilty of a drink driving or drug driving offence committed on or after 25 November 2011 will be required to complete a mandatory alcohol and drug awareness course in order to regain or retain their driver licence.