Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
2:12 pm
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
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.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
2:13 pm
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
It is because I was asked whether I stood by a statement that I have made, and I do.
Stephen Parry President
Senator Cameron, a final supplementary question.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
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
2:14 pm
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.