Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President. The Labor Party do not like this. They realise they have made a huge mistake. They went out to get Senator Brandis and they ended up getting their own man. The Solicitor-General seemed to think that he gave advice to the Attorney-General and to other ministers, and he seemed to think that, simply because he had given the advice, it should have been taken. He thought his advice was sacrosanct. He did not think the Attorney, who is quite a brilliant legal mind himself, might say: 'Well, I'm not quite sure about that legal opinion. I might get a legal opinion from a QC in the private profession—one who has a reputation for excellence,' which the Solicitor-General may or may not have had. But the Solicitor-General seemed to think that, because he gave advice, that was it and the Attorney-General had to not only accept it but also act on it. So I think the Solicitor-General did the right thing in resigning. He obviously realised he had made mistakes, and he did the only thing open to him.

Opposition senators interjecting—

As for the question of Senator Brandis telling the chamber—and unfortunately I only have 20 seconds—