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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/oct/14/george-brandis-to-appear-at-senate-committee-over-solicitor-general-politics-live
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| George Brandis: Justin Gleeson should have asked me before speaking to Mark Dreyfus – politics live | George Brandis: Justin Gleeson should have asked me before speaking to Mark Dreyfus – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.05am BST | |
| 06:05 | |
| Brandis has talked about why the citizenship bill in question changed a number of times. | |
| The bill related to removing citizenship from sole citizens over terrorism suspects. It is contentious in this committee because while Gleeson gave advice on the earlier draft, he had drawn a different conclusion on later drafts. He objected to Brandis using his earlier opinion – that the bill would withstand high court challenge – when the bill had been changed since that time. | |
| Brandis has told the committee this afternoon the bill had to change a number of times because the then prime minister, Tony Abbott, wanted Peter Dutton and George Brandis on the same page. | |
| But Dutton and Brandis were at odds and the cabinet was split, as shown in Peter Hartcher and James Massola’s story in May last year. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.06am BST | |
| 5.51am BST | |
| 05:51 | |
| This is Dreyfus’s statement: | |
| Today’s Senate inquiry has put beyond doubt that Senator Brandis has destroyed the integrity of the office of the solicitor general and knowingly misled the Senate. He must resign. | |
| Senator Brandis – through his own inexcusable actions – has made his own position untenable. | |
| If he does not resign, then prime minister Turnbull must live by the standard he has set himself and sack him. | |
| Solicitor general Justin Gleeson, in an appearance at the Senate committee today, could not have been clearer in establishing the following facts: | |
| Senator Brandis has now, on repeated occasions, knowingly misled the Senate with his statements that he had in fact consulted the solicitor general. After today’s Senate hearing we now know, beyond doubt, that is not true. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.05am BST | |
| 5.42am BST | 5.42am BST |
| 05:42 | 05:42 |
| Dreyfus confirmed he had a conversation with Gleeson during the caretaker period. | Dreyfus confirmed he had a conversation with Gleeson during the caretaker period. |
| 5.40am BST | 5.40am BST |
| 05:40 | 05:40 |
| Brandis says (in his mind) when he “consulted” Gleeson, he had not decided to implement the LSD (legal services direction). | |
| Mark Dreyfus is speaking, calling for Brandis to resign. | Mark Dreyfus is speaking, calling for Brandis to resign. |
| He described LNP senators’ behaviour towards Gleeson as: | |
| extraordinary, disrespectful, rude conduct. | |
| Dreyfus said it was inappropriate behaviour towards senior statutory office holders. | Dreyfus said it was inappropriate behaviour towards senior statutory office holders. |
| He called on Turnbull to make it clear to the senators it was inappropriate. | He called on Turnbull to make it clear to the senators it was inappropriate. |
| Updated | |
| at 5.47am BST | |
| 5.25am BST | 5.25am BST |
| 05:25 | 05:25 |
| AG Brandis uses one of his books-Matters for Judgement by John Kerr during evidence @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/V8cIAljjPD | AG Brandis uses one of his books-Matters for Judgement by John Kerr during evidence @gabriellechan @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/V8cIAljjPD |
| 5.24am BST | 5.24am BST |
| 05:24 | 05:24 |
| Brandis says there is an obligation on every legal practitioner, solicitors or barristers, not to disclose advice. | Brandis says there is an obligation on every legal practitioner, solicitors or barristers, not to disclose advice. |
| Even if there is some “construction” from Gleeson for talking to Mark Dreyfus during an election campaign, Brandis says there is no excuse for not telling Brandis. | Even if there is some “construction” from Gleeson for talking to Mark Dreyfus during an election campaign, Brandis says there is no excuse for not telling Brandis. |
| He says Gleeson should have sought Brandis’ consent first and if Gleeson thought he was obligated to talk to Dreyfus, Gleeson should have recommended to Brandis that the AG allow it. | He says Gleeson should have sought Brandis’ consent first and if Gleeson thought he was obligated to talk to Dreyfus, Gleeson should have recommended to Brandis that the AG allow it. |
| Brandis said he may have sought advice and may well have allowed the conversation to take place. | Brandis said he may have sought advice and may well have allowed the conversation to take place. |
| 5.15am BST | 5.15am BST |
| 05:15 | 05:15 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.17am BST | at 5.17am BST |
| 5.06am BST | 5.06am BST |
| 05:06 | 05:06 |
| Reynolds again complains about the treatment of Brandis by Watt. | Reynolds again complains about the treatment of Brandis by Watt. |
| Brandis again steps in and says he is fine. He notes Watt was very polite to Gleeson but: | Brandis again steps in and says he is fine. He notes Watt was very polite to Gleeson but: |
| If you want to be rude to me, go right ahead. | If you want to be rude to me, go right ahead. |
| 5.04am BST | 5.04am BST |
| 05:04 | 05:04 |
| Murray Watt just questioned why the secretary of the department, Chris Moraitis, did not appear. I missed the comment but general outrage ensued and Watt withdrew – given Moraitis had requested leave some time before. | Murray Watt just questioned why the secretary of the department, Chris Moraitis, did not appear. I missed the comment but general outrage ensued and Watt withdrew – given Moraitis had requested leave some time before. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.22am BST | at 5.22am BST |
| 5.00am BST | 5.00am BST |
| 05:00 | 05:00 |
| Watts says former SG Griffiths, the current SG Gleeson and Sir Anthony Mason disagree with the direction at issue. | Watts says former SG Griffiths, the current SG Gleeson and Sir Anthony Mason disagree with the direction at issue. |
| Brandis says as a lawyer “all of my adult life” he understands lawyers have different views about different contestable issues. | Brandis says as a lawyer “all of my adult life” he understands lawyers have different views about different contestable issues. |
| Only in the high court, does the majority rule. | Only in the high court, does the majority rule. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.03am BST | at 5.03am BST |