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

Mr President, it is the case, as the honourable senator being the chairman of that committee would know, that certain public interest immunity objections were taken in relation to the protection of legal advice given to the government. Those objections, which are the standard objections that have always been taken by the executive government and have been taken by Attorneys-General of both sides of politics, including, for example, the Hon. Gareth Evans, are a standard form of response where a question seeks to know of the legal advice given to the Commonwealth. Those objections were taken on advice, Senator Pratt. They were taken on advice.