George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The Law Officers Legislation Amendment Bill 2008amends the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976 and the Law Officers Act 1964 to provide holders of the office of Commonwealth Solicitor-General with an entitlement to long service leave. It is a technical bill and the opposition supports it. But I wonder if I might detain the Senate just for a moment to use this occasion to say a couple of words on behalf of the opposition in tribute to the retiring Commonwealth Solicitor-General, Mr David Bennett AC QC, and to welcome the Solicitor-General designate, Mr Stephen Gageler SC. David Bennett, whom it has been my pleasure to come to know over recent years, has held the office of Commonwealth Solicitor-General—