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

With respect, Senator Wong, it's not which factual and legal differences that is the point. The point is that there are factual and legal differences, which means that each case will have to be judged on its own facts and according to, respectively, the law of Italy and the law of New Zealand.

At risk of repeating myself, as I said in answer to Senator Cameron, on 25 July, when Senator Canavan was acquainted with the situation and on the basis of his understanding of the facts, at that time he decided that he would prefer to stand down. The facts of Mr Joyce's case, as I said before, are much clearer to us than were the facts as known to Senator Canavan at the time he made his decision. On the basis of those known facts and clear Solicitor-General advice, the government does not consider that there is sufficient reason for Mr Joyce to step down.