Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. On 12 September when asked whether he stood by his assurance to the Senate that he had consulted the Solicitor-General on the Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016, the Attorney-General said:

Yes, I do.

I again ask the Attorney-General: do you stand by this assurance?

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

Senator Cameron, as I said to your colleague Senator Collins, the answer is, yes, I do. I have provided a detailed statement to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee that explains why it is that that is my position.

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

Senator Cameron, a supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer to the Solicitor-General's evidence that he wrote to the Attorney-General on 11 May 2016 advising that he 'did not accept that the direction was the subject of prior consultation with me'. Why did the Attorney-General fail to reflect this position in his answer to the Senate some four months later?

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

It is because I was asked whether I stood by a statement that I have made, and I do.

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

Senator Cameron, a final supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that we know that the Solicitor-General wrote to the Attorney-General indicating he had not been consulted and the Solicitor-General has confirmed this in evidence to a Senate committee, why does the Attorney-General continue to deny that he has misled the Senate?

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

It is because, Senator Cameron, I have not done so. If you read the submission that I have provided to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee you will see why it is that that is my position which I adhere to.