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

Thank you very much indeed. I can. The Commonwealth will introduce legislation urgently to reverse the effect of the McGlade decision and to restore the status quo ante represented by the Bygrave decision.

I was first made aware of the decision of the full Federal Court the weekend before last. Last Monday I sought urgent advice from my department and arranged a briefing for myself and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. I also brought the matter to the attention of the Prime Minister, and last week the Prime Minister authorised the introduction into the parliament, as soon as may be, urgent legislation to legislatively reverse the effect of the McGlade decision. Those instructions were given to my department last week. The matter is now in the hands of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and I am advised that draft legislation will be ready perhaps as early as this afternoon.