Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. On 4 May 2016, the Attorney-General tabled an explanatory statement regarding his directions to the Solicitor-General. The statement said:

As the Direction relates to the process for referring a question of law to the Solicitor-General, the Attorney-General has consulted the Solicitor-General.

Does the Attorney-General stand by this assurance?

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

Yes, I do.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, a supplementary question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When and how was the Solicitor-General consulted?

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

During the course of a meeting in my office on 30 November 2015.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, a final supplementary question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the Attorney-General's assurance that he consulted the Solicitor-General as reliable as the statement that he had consulted with Mick Gooda on the establishment of the royal commission into the Northern Territory juvenile detention system—a statement Mr Gooda is reported to have refuted?

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

I actually do not have the faintest idea what you are talking about, Senator Conroy.