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

On a point of order, Mr President: I wonder if you might caution the minister as to the Senate’s practice in relation to commenting on pending judicial proceedings. The minister did qualify himself at the start of his answer, quite properly, when he said that there are matters still before the jury. But as he expanded upon his answer he did seem to me to trespass on issues which are still currently before the court in the proceedings he describes. I do not think, Mr President, that there is a standing order that governs the matter. There certainly is the practice of the Senate, and I wonder if you might counsel the minister accordingly.