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

The government opposes the motion. The motion calls for deliberative advice passing between the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General and between the Attorney-General and his department. To require the production of such documents would completely undermine any government's ability to obtain independent legal advice from a second law officer of the Commonwealth and to prejudice the provision of frank advice from public servants to their ministers. These are longstanding principles essential to the proper functioning of government.