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

Senator Pratt, yes, I am familiar with Lord Atkin's judgement in Liversidge v Anderson and I am familiar with the quotation from Alice in Wonderland. In fact, can I share a secret with you, Senator Pratt: I was even thinking of quoting that passage myself in my submission to the committee in relation to some of Mr Justin Gleeson's evidence, but I refrained from doing so for fear of being thought flippant.

Senator Pratt interjecting—

Senator Pratt, I am more than amazed to find myself having a debate across the Senate floor with you about the meaning of a word. But if you recall, Senator Pratt, I did hand up to you an extract from the Oxford English Dictionary, which defined the word 'consultation' in eight different ways. Seven of them completely supported my recollection of the events, supported by the contemporaneous diary notes, and one obscure reference to which you refer did not.