THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
ACTING SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
BRANDIS LIED TO PARLIAMENT OVER SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Attorney-General Senator George Brandis has been caught lying to the Australian Parliament over his claim that he consulted the Solicitor-General, Justin Gleeson, prior to amending the Legal Services Direction.
On May 4 2016, two days after the Budget and three days before writs were issued, the Attorney-General wrote to Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson to direct that he must gain written consent from the Attorney-General before giving legal advice to any part of the Government. In a document tabled to the Australian Parliament, Senator Brandis falsely claimed that he consulted the Solicitor-General before making this direction. He repeated this false claim in the Senate on 12 September 2016.
The new Direction means that the Solicitor-General, can only respond to requests for legal advice from within government or government agencies if he first receives Senator Brandis written permission.
Senator Brandis lies were exposed today by a submission the Solicitor-General made to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, contradicting Senator Brandis claim, and unequivocally stating that he was not consulted about Senator Brandis power grab, and that he had written to Senator Brandis on May 11, expressing dissatisfaction about not being consulted prior to the decision.
As the Commonwealths First Law Officer, the Attorney-General needs to be beyond reproach when it comes to matters of integrity and upholding the rule of law. It is clear that in lying to the Australian Parliament and the Australian people that Senator Brandis has failed in his duties, Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.
Senator Brandis has attempted this power grab and then covered it up by claiming that he had consulted the Solicitor-General. Today it was revealed that Senator Brandis did not consult the Solicitor-General, and he ignored a letter the Solicitor-General had written to him, expressing his dissatisfaction about the decision.
Senator Brandis has misled the Australian Parliament and lied to the Australian people. He has no choice but to resign. If Senator Brandis does not resign, then Mr Turnbull must show some leadership and sack Senator Brandis, Mr Dreyfus said.
WEDNESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2016
