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

Senator Xenophon, you are a braver man than I am—or perhaps a more reckless one—to say that any proceeding in the High Court of Australia is a lay-down misere. It is the case that the Commonwealth believes that, under the pre-existing law, it is on strong legal grounds. It is also the view of the Commonwealth that this legislation will strengthen and further undergird the Commonwealth's legal position. But I really do not have anything more to say to you about the cost issue than I have already said in answer to your previous question.