THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
BRANDIS CHANGES LAW FOR PERSONAL VENDETTA
Today we have had the shocking revelation that Attorney-General George Brandis personally targeted Justin Gleeson, in changing the law specifically to limit the independence of Mr Gleeson's office.
On Brisbane radio this morning, Andrew Laming MP let the cat out of the bag stating that the Legal Services Direction implemented by Senator Brandis to limit Mr Gleeson's role is no longer needed because Mr Gleeson is gone.
Andrew Laming: Now that he is gone, you don't need that regulation.
Steve Austin, Host: Well the regulation is going to be rejected by Parliament
Laming: That's right and its not a problem now because you are now appointing someone else. This was done because they didn't trust Gleeson.
Austin: Well it does sound like the regulation was set up for Justin Gleeson then doesn't it? The way I am interpreting it that it does sound like its.
Laming: True. I just didn't say that but you can infer that.
Austin: That's what it sounds like to me.
Terri Butler: That is the inference that anyone would draw. Wouldn't anyone draw that inference?
Radio 612 Brisbane, Mornings with Steve Austin, Wednesday 26 October
Let us be clear we are talking about an Attorney-General who has destroyed the integrity of the office of Solicitor-General because of a personal vendetta - changing a law of the Commonwealth to target one person.
This is one of the worst abuses of power ever committed by an Attorney-General. You do not make new laws to muzzle a critic. We do not live in a police state.
This must be the final straw for Prime Minister Turnbull he can no longer protect George Brandis. He must be sacked.
Today's revelation is just the latest in a string of examples that demonstrate the Turnbull Governments inability to handle criticism from independent officers. When Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Paul Grimes questioned Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's integrity, he was sacked. When President of the Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs criticised the governments handling of offshore processing, she was subjected to hours of insulting questioning from Liberal senators. When Justin Gleeson disagreed with Senator Brandis, he muzzled him with a new law.
This is a government which no longer has the ability to admit mistakes and who tramples on its critics. Mr Turnbull, Senator Brandis and this government are a disgrace.
WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2016
