The Attorney‑General’s Portfolio comprises the Attorney‑General’s Department and 21 Portfolio entities. The Portfolio delivers programs and policies to maintain and improve Australia's law, justice, security and integrity frameworks and to facilitate jobs growth through the promotion of fair, productive and safe workplaces. This work spans a range of significant areas and affects the lives of many Australians, including those in regional and remote communities.

The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) provides centrally coordinated strategy and policy leadership to support the Home Affairs Portfolio (the Portfolio). The Portfolio includes the Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. A strategy-led and coordinated approach ensures the Portfolio delivers outcomes for Australia’s rural and regional community on behalf of the Government.

The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio’s purpose is to help create an inclusive and prosperous Australia by maximising opportunity though national leadership on education, skills and employment policy development and implementation.

The Portfolio works with state and territory governments, other Australian Government entities and a range of service providers to provide quality policy advice and services for the benefit of all Australians, and through its range of programs, supports Australians living in regional and rural communities.

The purpose of Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is to support the wellbeing of those who serve or have served in the defence of our nation, and their families, by:

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio works to make Australia stronger, safer and more prosperous. The Portfolio comprises the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Export Finance Australia (EFA), the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Tourism Australia and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS).

The Australian Government continues to support Australians living in regional, rural and remote areas through a number of new initiatives funded in the 2020-21 Budget, including those in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (the Department) drives economic growth and job creation for all Australians. The Department supports the growth and transformation of our regions, and the creation of jobs across Australia. The Department delivers on these objectives by investing in areas of competitive strength or emerging priority such as resources and the National Manufacturing Priorities, building on our strong science and technology capabilities, and supporting the provision of reliable, secure and affordable energy.

The Defence Portfolio includes the Department of Defence (Defence), Defence Housing Australia (DHA) and the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).

As at 30 June 2020, the Defence Portfolio employed 18,000 staff under the Public Service Act 1999. Of this total, 9,608 staff (53 per cent) are employed in Canberra, central Melbourne and central Sydney, 5,667 staff (32 per cent) in other capital cities and 2,725 staff (15 per cent) in regional areas.

The Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) Portfolio improves the lives of Australians by providing high quality advice and support to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, Portfolio Ministers and Assistant Ministers. It takes a coordinated and innovative approach to the development and implementation of Australian Government policies, including those that impact on regional and remote communities.