Formats and related files
Vote Attorney-General#
APPROPRIATION MINISTER(S): Attorney-General (M5)
APPROPRIATION ADMINISTRATOR: Crown Law Office
RESPONSIBLE MINISTER FOR CROWN LAW OFFICE: Attorney-General
Overview of the Vote#
The Attorney-General is responsible for appropriations in the Vote for the 2019/20 financial year covering the following:
- a total of just over $22 million for the provision of legal advice and representation services to central government departments and Crown agencies
- a total of $614,000 for departmental capital expenditure, and
- a total of over $50 million to provide for the discharge of the Law Officers' constitutional and criminal law responsibilities, including conducting appeals arising from Crown prosecutions; developing the collective capability, effectiveness and efficiency of government lawyers; providing assistance to the Principal Law Officers in the exercise of their functions; and the provision and supervision of a national Crown prosecution service.
Details of these appropriations are set out in Parts 2-4.
Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections#
Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations#
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Titles and Scopes of Appropriations by Appropriation Type | Final Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Budget $000 |
Departmental Output Expenses |
|||
Legal Advice and Representation (M5) Providing legal advice and representation services to central government departments and Crown agencies. |
22,337 | 20,427 | 22,337 |
Total Departmental Output Expenses |
22,337 | 20,427 | 22,337 |
Departmental Capital Expenditure |
|||
Crown Law Office - Capital Expenditure PLA (M5) This appropriation is limited to the purchase or development of assets by and for the use of the Crown Law Office, as authorised by section 24(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989. |
783 | 783 | 614 |
Total Departmental Capital Expenditure |
783 | 783 | 614 |
Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure |
|||
Law Officer Functions MCA (M5) The single overarching purpose of this appropriation is to provide for the discharge of the Law Officers' constitutional and criminal law responsibilities. |
48,136 | 47,516 | 50,428 |
Departmental Output Expenses |
|||
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown Prosecutions This category is limited to conducting appeals arising from Crown prosecutions. |
3,328 | 3,278 | 3,766 |
Government Legal Network This category is limited to developing the collective capability, effectiveness and efficiency of government lawyers. |
1,005 | 694 | 1,108 |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties This category is limited to providing assistance to the Principal Law Officers in the exercise of their functions, and providing advice on constitutional, criminal law, mutual assistance and extradition matters. |
4,861 | 4,602 | 5,470 |
Public Prosecution Services This category is limited to the provision and supervision of a national Crown prosecution service and oversight of public prosecutions. |
38,942 | 38,942 | 40,084 |
Total Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure |
48,136 | 47,516 | 50,428 |
Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations |
71,256 | 68,726 | 73,379 |
Capital Injection Authorisations#
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Final Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Budget $000 |
|
Crown Law Office - Capital Injection (M5) | - | - | - |
Supporting Information#
Part 1 - Vote as a Whole#
1.1 - New Policy Initiatives
Policy Initiative | Appropriation | 2018/19 Final Budgeted $000 |
2019/20 Budget $000 |
2020/21 Estimated $000 |
2021/22 Estimated $000 |
2022/23 Estimated $000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enabling a Sustainable Crown Law to Meet Core Operating Cost Pressures |
Crown Law Office - Capital Injection Departmental Capital Expenditure |
- | - | - | 2,100 | - |
Law Officer Functions MCA Departmental Output Expenses: |
||||||
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown Prosecutions | - | 438 | 507 | 545 | 542 | |
Government Legal Network | - | 103 | 119 | 129 | 128 | |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties | - | 667 | 745 | 786 | 783 | |
Public Prosecution Services | - | 138 | 160 | 173 | 172 | |
Ensuring the Sustainability of the District Court by Appointing Additional District Court Judges |
Law Officer Functions MCA Departmental Output Expenses:Public Prosecution Services |
- | 1,004 | 1,004 | 1,004 | 1,004 |
Improving the Justice Response to Sexual Violence Victims |
Law Officer Functions MCA Departmental Output Expenses:Public Prosecution Services |
- | - | - | 9,482 | 7,900 |
Total Initiatives | - | 2,350 | 2,535 | 14,219 | 10,529 |
1.2 - Trends in the Vote
Summary of Financial Activity
2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actual $000 |
Actual $000 |
Actual $000 |
Actual $000 |
Final Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Departmental Transactions Budget $000 |
Non- Departmental Transactions Budget $000 |
Total Budget $000 |
Estimated $000 |
Estimated $000 |
Estimated $000 |
|
Appropriations |
||||||||||||
Output Expenses | 15,346 | 18,235 | 19,045 | 20,177 | 22,337 | 20,427 | 22,337 | - | 22,337 | 22,337 | 22,337 | 22,337 |
Benefits or Related Expenses | - | - | - | - | - | - | N/A | - | - | - | - | - |
Borrowing Expenses | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Other Expenses | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Capital Expenditure | 95 | 276 | 407 | 221 | 783 | 783 | 614 | - | 614 | 418 | 3,622 | 341 |
Intelligence and Security Department Expenses and Capital Expenditure | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | N/A | - | - | - | - |
Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure (MCA) | ||||||||||||
Output Expenses | 41,358 | 42,639 | 47,338 | 48,052 | 48,136 | 47,516 | 50,428 | - | 50,428 | 50,179 | 59,763 | 58,173 |
Other Expenses | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Capital Expenditure | - | - | - | - | - | - | N/A | - | - | - | - | - |
Total Appropriations |
56,799 | 61,150 | 66,790 | 68,450 | 71,256 | 68,726 | 73,379 | - | 73,379 | 72,934 | 85,722 | 80,851 |
Crown Revenue and Capital Receipts |
||||||||||||
Tax Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | N/A | - | - | - | - | - |
Non-Tax Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | N/A | - | - | - | - | - |
Capital Receipts | - | - | - | - | - | - | N/A | - | - | - | - | - |
Total Crown Revenue and Capital Receipts |
- | - | - | - | - | - | N/A | - | - | - | - | - |
Note - where restructuring of the vote has occurred then, to the extent practicable, prior years information has been restated as if the restructuring had occurred before the beginning of the period covered. In this instance Total Appropriations for the Budgeted and Estimated Actual year may not equal Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations and Multi-Year Appropriations in the Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections.
1.3 - Analysis of Significant Trends
The increase in the multi-category appropriation for 2016/17 and subsequent years reflects the permanent establishment of the Government Legal Network from 1 July 2016, and the adoption of a sustainable fee model for Crown prosecution services.
The increase in the capital expenditure in 2021/22 reflects forecast expenditure for leasehold improvements, and furniture and fittings, which are scheduled to be upgraded or replaced.
Part 2 - Details of Departmental Appropriations#
2.1 - Departmental Output Expenses
Legal Advice and Representation (M5)
Scope of Appropriation
Expenses and Revenue
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Final Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Budget $000 |
|
Total Appropriation | 22,337 | 20,427 | 22,337 |
Revenue from the Crown | - | - | - |
Revenue from Others | 22,337 | 20,427 | 22,337 |
What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation
This appropriation is intended to achieve improved management of Crown legal risk and better policy decisions informed by legal implications.
How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Assessment of Performance | Final Budgeted Standard |
Estimated Actual |
Budget Standard |
Quantity |
|||
New Matters |
|||
Advice |
380 - 425 | 372 | 380 - 425 |
Litigation |
350 - 400 | 302 | 350 - 400 |
Judicial review |
100 - 125 | 83 | 100 - 125 |
Claims before Waitangi Tribunal |
35 - 50 | 155 | 35 - 50 |
Quality |
|||
Responses to the client survey that consider the advice and services received overall are good to excellent |
90% | 90% | 90% |
Responses to the client survey that consider the responsiveness, relevancy, accuracy, and clarity of advice are good to excellent |
90% | 90% | 90% |
Written opinions and advice that are peer reviewed |
80% | 80% | 80% |
Timeliness |
|||
Responses to the client survey that consider timeliness in responding to requests are good to excellent |
85% | 80% | 85% |
Written opinions/advice (final or draft) completed by the due date |
85% | 80% | 85% |
Litigation Management Plans completed by the due date |
80% | 80% | 80% |
Value for Money |
|||
Percentage of responses to the client survey that consider the service received represents value for money is good or excellent |
95% | 90% | 95% |
End of Year Performance Reporting
Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Crown Law Office in the Annual Report.
Memorandum Account
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Budget $000 |
|
Legal Advice and Representation |
|||
Opening Balance at 1 July | 109 | 754 | 754 |
Revenue | 22,337 | 20,427 | 20,427 |
Expenses | (22,337) | (20,427) | (20,427) |
Transfers and Adjustments | - | - | - |
Closing Balance at 30 June |
109 | 754 | 754 |
2.3 - Departmental Capital Expenditure and Capital Injections
Crown Law Office - Capital Expenditure PLA (M5)
Scope of Appropriation
Capital Expenditure
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Final Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Budget $000 |
|
Forests/Agricultural | - | - | - |
Land | - | - | - |
Property, Plant and Equipment | 645 | 645 | 368 |
Intangibles | 138 | 138 | 246 |
Other | - | - | - |
Total Appropriation |
783 | 783 | 614 |
What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation
This appropriation is intended to achieve the renewal and replacement of life-expired assets in support of the delivery of the Crown Law Office's services.
How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements
Expenditure is in accordance with the department's capital asset management intentions in order to maintain service levels.
End of Year Performance Reporting
Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Crown Law Office in the Annual Report.
Reasons for Change in Appropriation
The decrease in this appropriation for 2019/20 is mainly due to the different phasing required for the renewal and replacement of various furniture, office equipment, and computer hardware and software.
Capital Injections and Movements in Departmental Net Assets
Crown Law Office
Details of Net Asset Schedule | 2018/19 Estimated Actual $000 |
2019/20 Projected $000 |
Explanation of Projected Movements in 2019/20 |
---|---|---|---|
Opening Balance | 2,866 | 2,866 | |
Capital Injections | - | - | |
Capital Withdrawals | - | - | |
Surplus to be Retained (Deficit Incurred) | - | - | |
Other Movements | - | - | |
Closing Balance |
2,866 | 2,866 |
Part 4 - Details of Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure#
Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure
Law Officer Functions (M5)
Overarching Purpose Statement
Scope of Appropriation
Departmental Output Expenses
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown ProsecutionsThis category is limited to conducting appeals arising from Crown prosecutions.
Government Legal Network
This category is limited to developing the collective capability, effectiveness and efficiency of government lawyers.
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties
This category is limited to providing assistance to the Principal Law Officers in the exercise of their functions, and providing advice on constitutional, criminal law, mutual assistance and extradition matters.
Public Prosecution Services
This category is limited to the provision and supervision of a national Crown prosecution service and oversight of public prosecutions.
Expenses, Revenue and Capital Expenditure
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Final Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Budget $000 |
|
Total Appropriation |
48,136 | 47,516 | 50,428 |
Departmental Output Expenses |
|||
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown Prosecutions | 3,328 | 3,278 | 3,766 |
Government Legal Network | 1,005 | 694 | 1,108 |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties | 4,861 | 4,602 | 5,470 |
Public Prosecution Services | 38,942 | 38,942 | 40,084 |
Funding for Departmental Output Expenses |
|||
Revenue from the Crown |
47,656 | 47,656 | 49,734 |
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown Prosecutions | 3,278 | 3,278 | 3,716 |
Government Legal Network | 885 | 885 | 988 |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties | 4,571 | 4,571 | 4,966 |
Public Prosecution Services | 38,922 | 38,922 | 40,064 |
Revenue from Others |
480 | 403 | 694 |
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown Prosecutions | 50 | - | 50 |
Government Legal Network | 120 | 120 | 120 |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties | 290 | 263 | 504 |
Public Prosecution Services | 20 | 20 | 20 |
What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation
This appropriation is intended to achieve, or support the achievement of, improved criminal justice, maintain strong legal institutions, and strengthen the influence of the rule of law.
How Performance will be Assessed for this Appropriation
Performance for this appropriation will be assessed in more detail against the service delivery measures for each individual category within the appropriation.
What is Intended to be Achieved with each Category and How Performance will be Assessed
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Assessment of Performance | Final Budgeted Standard |
Estimated Actual |
Budget Standard |
Departmental Output Expenses |
|||
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown Prosecutions |
|||
This category is intended to achieve safer communities, reduced impact of crime and related justice sector outcomes. |
|||
Quantity |
|||
New matters |
|||
Crown appeals |
15 - 25 | 30 | 15 - 30 |
Accused appeals |
600 - 650 | 670 | 600 - 650 |
Quality |
|||
Effectiveness |
|||
Percentage of Crown appeals concluded in favour of the Crown |
60% | 60% | 60% |
Government Legal Network |
|||
This category is intended to enable the Crown to improve the value generated from the collective resources of the Government Legal Network. |
|||
Quantity |
|||
Number of individual CPD-compliant hours delivered annually to the GLN lawyers |
3,500 - 4,000 | 4,000 | 3,500 - 4,000 |
Number of reports submitted to the Attorney-General under the GLN Legal Risk Reporting System |
4 | 4 | 4 |
Quality |
|||
Chief Legal Advisors consider GLN team engagement and communications are good to excellent |
80% | 80% | 80% |
Lawyers registered on GLN Online consider GLN activities and opportunities for participation are good to excellent |
70% | 70% | 70% |
The Attorney-General is satisfied with the GLN Legal Risk Reporting System |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties |
|||
This category is intended to achieve increased trust in the justice system through the performance of the Principal Law Officers' constitutional and other duties. |
|||
Quantity |
|||
New Matters |
|||
Applications processed on behalf of the Attorney-General |
35 - 55 | 39 | 35 - 55 |
Advice on behalf of the Attorney-General |
120 - 160 | 110 | 120 - 160 |
Litigation on behalf of the Law Officers (Attorney-General and/or Solicitor-General) |
15 - 25 | 9 | 15 - 25 |
Criminal advice |
5 - 15 | 5 | 5 - 15 |
Judicial reviews |
5 - 10 | 5 | 5 - 10 |
Mutual assistance and extraditions |
80 - 100 | 138 | 100 - 120 |
Criminal cases (other types) |
25 - 40 | 29 | 25 - 40 |
Requests for prosecution appeals and judicial reviews |
70 - 110 | 80 | 70 - 110 |
Timeliness |
|||
Ministerial correspondence on time |
100% | 97% | 100% |
Responses to Parliamentary questions on time |
100% | 100% | 100% |
Official Information Act 1982 and Privacy Act 1993 responses on time |
100% | 96% | 100% |
Public Prosecution Services |
|||
This category is intended to achieve safer communities, reduced impact of crime and related justice sector outcomes. |
|||
Quantity |
|||
New Crown prosecutions including appeals to the High Court from non-Crown prosecutions |
5,000 - 7,000 | 6,500 | 5,000 -7,000 |
Crown prosecutions, including appeals to the High Court from non-Crown prosecutions, disposed of |
4,500 - 5,500 | 5,200 | 4,500 - 5,500 |
Hours of service provided |
207,000 - 212,000 | 220,000 | 215,000 - 225,000 |
Number of quality assurance reviews (full network is reviewed on rotation every three years) |
6 | 6 | 6 |
Quality |
|||
Reviews, quality assessed as exceeding or meeting expected standards |
6 | 6 | 6 |
Improvement recommendations implemented within timeframes set greater than |
90% | 90% | 90% |
End of Year Performance Reporting
Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Crown Law Office in the Annual Report.
Current and Past Policy Initiatives
Policy Initiative | Year of First Impact |
2018/19 Final Budgeted $000 |
2019/20 Budget $000 |
2020/21 Estimated $000 |
2021/22 Estimated $000 |
2022/23 Estimated $000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current Government |
||||||
Conduct of Criminal Appeals from Crown Prosecutions |
||||||
Enabling a Sustainable Crown Law to Meet Core Operating Cost Pressures | 2019/20 | - | 438 | 507 | 545 | 542 |
Government Legal Network |
||||||
Enabling a Sustainable Crown Law to Meet Core Operating Cost Pressures | 2019/20 | - | 103 | 119 | 129 | 128 |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties |
||||||
Enabling a Sustainable Crown Law to Meet Core Operating Cost Pressures | 2019/20 | - | 667 | 745 | 786 | 783 |
Public Prosecution Services |
||||||
Enabling a Sustainable Crown Law to Meet Core Operating Cost Pressures | 2019/20 | - | 138 | 160 | 173 | 172 |
Ensuring the Sustainability of the District Court by Appointing Additional District Court Judges | 2019/20 | - | 1,004 | 1,004 | 1,004 | 1,004 |
Improving the Justice Response to Sexual Violence Victims | 2021/22 | - | - | - | 9,482 | 7,900 |
Previous Government |
||||||
Government Legal Network |
||||||
Permanent Establishment of the Government Legal Network | 2016/17 | 885 | 885 | 885 | 885 | 885 |
Law Officer Constitutional and Criminal Law Duties |
||||||
Share of Costs for Budget 2015 Whole-of-Government Initiatives | 2015/16 | (85) | (85) | (85) | (85) | (85) |
Public Prosecution Services |
||||||
Increased Funding to Sustain Crown Prosecution Services | 2016/17 | 4,922 | 4,922 | 4,922 | 4,922 | 4,922 |
Reasons for Change in Appropriation
The increase in this appropriation for 2019/20 is mainly due to:
- an increase of $1.346 million in this appropriation to allow Crown Law to meet ongoing operating cost pressures in discharging the Principal Law Officers' constitutional and criminal law responsibilities
- an increase of $1.004 million in this appropriation to fund the increased work in criminal trials as a result of appointing additional District Court Judges
- an increase of $241,000 in departmental revenue funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the 2019/20 Pacific Islands Law Officers' Network (PILON) Litigation Skills Programme. The programme is facilitated and managed by Crown Law, and offset by
- an expense transfer of $300,000 from 2017/18 to 2018/19 in this appropriation to manage the timing of developing and publishing stand-alone Solicitor-General guidelines on prosecuting sexual violence cases, and developing training for Crown Solicitors based on the new guidelines.
Memorandum Account
2018/19 | 2019/20 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Budgeted $000 |
Estimated Actual $000 |
Budget $000 |
|
Processing of Queen's Counsel Applications |
|||
Opening Balance at 1 July | 51 | 50 | 67 |
Revenue | 50 | 37 | 40 |
Expenses | (50) | (20) | (40) |
Transfers and Adjustments | - | - | - |
Closing Balance at 30 June |
51 | 67 | 67 |