James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

It has been the longstanding practice of successive Australian governments not to disclose privileged legal advice. The practice was outlined by former Labor Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee during estimates on 26 May 2011 where he said, 'To the extent that we are now going to the content of the advice, can I say that it has been a long-standing practice of both this government and previous governments not to disclose the content of advice.' This government maintains that it is not in the public interest to depart from the established position which has been maintained over many years by successive governments.