Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, my question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General who yesterday, in relation to the High Court hearing on 8 February this year, said: 'The council who appeared in the matter in the High Court on behalf of the only relevant party, Mr Gleeson, was, as I understand the matter, at that time acting on instructions of the Australian Taxation Office not on my instructions.' Given Mr Gleeson did not appear, the ATO was not represented and Mr Watson sought leave to appear at the hearing on 8 February on behalf of the Commonwealth and not the Australian Tax Office, can the Attorney-General confirm his answer was incorrect?