Government in South Australia is delivered by a number of agencies, grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a government minister who is a member of the Parliament of South Australia, appointed by the Governor as the representative of the Crown.

This article needs to be updated. (December 2023)

The agencies are principally grouped around departments, each led by a secretary, director-general or similarly title executive officer and comprising a number of portfolios covering specific policy areas across the department and allocated statutory authorities, trading enterprises, boards, councils and other public bodies.

Agencies have varying levels of operational autonomy, and deliver one or more of frontline public services, administrative functions and law enforcement. Some are structured as for-profit corporations. Where there are multiple portfolios within a department, directors-general may be accountable to a number of ministers.

All agencies are identifiable by their corporate logo, which features in agency advertising, publications and correspondence, pictured right.

A list of articles on South Australian government agencies sorted alphabetically is available at Government agencies of South Australia. The South Australian government maintains a list of agencies and their contact details at its website.^[1]

The South Australian Attorney-General's Department (AGD) brings together a diverse group of functions across justice, rights protection and public safety on behalf of the community. Agencies include:^[2]

The Auditor-General's Department provides the Parliament and public sector entities with independent professional opinions on matters related to financial management, compliance with legislative requirements.

The Department for Human Services (DHS) (previously the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI)) brings together a range of services, funding and policy responsibilities which together support safety, equality, opportunity and justice across South Australia.^[5] The Department includes:

• Department for Correctional Services

• South Australian Country Fire Service

• Courts Administration Authority

• Defence SA^[7]

• Electoral Commission of South Australia

The Department for Education delivers and coordinates children's services and schooling.

SA Health^[8] is responsible for protecting and improving public health by providing leadership in health reform, policy development and planning:^[9]

• The Legal Services Commission is a statutory authority, independent of government, "funded by both the South Australian and the Commonwealth Governments to provide legal assistance to South Australians".^[1]

• South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (renamed from Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure in August 2020) has responsibilities in relation to guiding and administering the South Australian planning and development assessment system,^[10] and for transport system and services.^[11] The department also works regularly with police in regards to motor vehicle registration, enforcement of speed limits and other road matters.^[12]

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) provides central agency leadership on matters that affect South Australia's prosperity. It provides economic and policy advice to support the government's strategic priorities, the state's international relationships and the management of ICT Strategy, innovation and investment. DPC publishes and advances South Australia's Strategic Plan and has expressed commitments to community engagement, excellence in service delivery and good business practice.^[13]

Its responsibilities include, among others:^[14]

Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA),^[17] formerly the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia,^[18] is an agency focussed on driving economic growth in the state. Its aim is to "grow primary industries and drive regional development".^[17] Its key areas of work include primary sector industries (in SA, mainly agriculture, viticulture and farming of livestock),^[19] marine aquaculture, and Biosecurity.^[20]

The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) is the state government's principal research institute, and forms part of PIRSA.^[21]

Department of Treasury and Finance, in the portfolio of the Treasurer of South Australia, provides economic, policy and financial advice to the Government, manages the whole of Government financial management processes, including preparation of the state budget, and provides finance-related services across Government.

As of 2020^[update], the Urban Renewal Authority, trading as Renewal SA, is within the Treasurer's portfolio.^[22]

The Department for Trade and Investment (DTI) exists in order to foster economic growth in the state, by attracting new foreign investment as well as increasing exports in appropriate sectors. It uses the branding "South Australia" and "I choose SA" to promote investment.^[23]

The Planning and Land Use Services (PLUS) division, also known as PlanSA, lies within this department,^[24] and the Office for Design and Architecture SA (ODASA) within that. The ODASA team is led by the South Australian Government Architect and has expertise in architecture, heritage, landscape architecture, urban design and urban planning. The Government Architect role in South Australia:^[25]

• oversees the state's Design Review program
• provides independent design advice on large-scale development proposals
• supports current planning reforms and the State Planning Commission
• provides independent design advice to Cabinet
• supports infrastructure, planning delivery across government
• supports government procurement

The South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) oversees volunteers and employees within the fire and emergency services sector.^[26]

SAFECOM works with are:^[26]

• the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS)
• the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS)
• the South Australian State Emergency Service (SES)

SAFECOM submits an annual report to the Minister for Emergency Services each year.^[26]

• South Australia Police

• State Emergency Service

• Capital City Committee Directorate^[29]
• Adelaide Cemeteries Authority^[30]
• Adelaide Film Festival
• Local Government Grants Commission
• Outback Communities Authority^[31]
• Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing ^[32]
• South Australian Sports Institute^[33]

• Government of South Australia