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The Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) is an independent prosecuting service that was established by Parliament to prosecute alleged offences against Commonwealth law, and to deprive offenders of the proceeds and benefits of criminal activity. The CDPP aims to provide an effective national criminal prosecution service to the community that is fair and just, and operates with integrity. Prosecutions are conducted in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth.

The CDPP is distinguished from its state and territory counterparts by its practice areas. The CDPP does not generally prosecute street crime. The main cases prosecuted by the CDPP include drug importation, money laundering, offences against the corporations legislation, fraud on the Commonwealth (including tax fraud, medifraud and social security fraud), people smuggling, people trafficking (including sexual servitude and sexual slavery), terrorism, and a range of regulatory offences. The CDPP’s prosecution practice is as wide as the reach of Commonwealth law.