George Brandis - How long?

[Bomberboyokay]

Hmmmm.

Labor calls for resignation of George Brandis following public stoush with solicitor-general Justin Gleeson

By political reporter Francis Keany
Updated about an hour ago

The second-highest law officer in Australia has publicly criticised Federal Attorney-General George Brandis, claiming he was not consulted on marriage equality and citizenship laws.

Solicitor-general Justin Gleeson SC made the revelation in a submission to a Senate inquiry, which is examining a direction blocking the solicitor-general from providing legal advice to anyone in the Government without the permission of the Attorney-General.

Labor has accused Senator Brandis of misleading Parliament on the issue and has called for him to resign.

Senator Brandis said he consulted Mr Gleeson on the direction during a meeting in November 2015.

But Mr Gleeson said there was no consultation until it was issued by Senator Brandis in May this year.

"Nothing of that kind was discussed at that meeting," Mr Gleeson said in the submission to the Senate, who said he had also taken unsuccessful steps to have the direction withdrawn.

The meeting in November was called to address concerns by Mr Gleeson that his work had been "hampered", accusing the Government of failing to properly consult him on a number of contentious issues.

It includes laws that would see the Australian citizenship stripped from dual nationals if they are convicted of terrorism offences, as well as changes involving same-sex marriage.

In the letter from November, Mr Gleeson said there needed to be greater coordination between the Government and his office and expressed concern about the "accurate public representation" of his advice.

Brandis maintains Gleeson was consulted orally

In a statement to the inquiry, Senator Brandis said he acted appropriately over the direction, and is adamant the issue was discussed during the November meeting.

"The solicitor-general was consulted on the 'process for seeking … solicitor-general advice in significant matters'," the statement read.

"The solicitor-general was consulted orally at the meeting of 30 November, and he was invited to provide written suggestions.

"I considered that this consultation was appropriate and sufficient for the purposes of S17 of the Legislation Act."

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said Senator Brandis should step down as Attorney-General, accusing him of a "power grab" against a figure who provides independent legal advice.

"Senator Brandis has misled, directly misled the Australian people, lied to the Parliament by saying that he consulted with the Solicitor-General," Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus told the ABC's Lateline program.

"That is absolutely a disgraceful way to treat the most senior advice that is available to the Government of Australia."

"Senator Brandis should resign."

During yesterday's Senate inquiry hearings into the matter, former solicitor-general David Bennett gave evidence via teleconference from his home and revealed he had been joined by Senator Brandis's chief of staff, James Lambie.

Mr Dreyfus told AM Mr Lambie's presence at Mr Bennett's home was "extraordinary".

"It smacks of interference in the committee's work."

The secretary of the Attorney-General's department, Chris Moraitis, was called to give evidence but sent a deputy instead.

Mr Moraitis was present at the November meeting between Senator Brandis and Mr Gleeson about which they disagree.

"I take Mr Moraitis's non-appearance at the committee as an acceptance of the correctness of everything that Justin Gleeson … has to say," Mr Dreyfus told AM.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-...rge-brandis-did-not-consult-on-issues/7906588

 

[pazza]

Been brewing for some months.

The 2 most senior legal officials in the country have to be able to work together. The situation is totally unworkable.

 

[benchwarmer5]

Did ya see the ABC interview he did 2day ?
Eyelids fluttering and stuffing the interview with the biggest words he has in the arsenal.....bookshelf is on the ropes
Makes my skin crawl

 

[Lebbo73]

Maybe the solicitor-general needs to resign. If he can't get over his ego and work with the governor-general, he might be the one who is the problem!

 

[Ice-Wolf]

Maybe the solicitor-general needs to resign. If he can't get over his ego and work with the governor-general, he might be the one who is the problem!

Brandis isn't the Governor-General he's the Attorney-General and he's the one that should be going to the Governor-General to resign because he is incapable of performing his duties.

 

[benchwarmer5]

Brandis isn't the Governor-General he's the Attorney-General and he's the one that should be going to the Governor-General to resign because he is incapable of performing his duties.

I dunno
Just make him stop

 

[Juddism]

and shopping around for advice from former Solicitor General?!? seems like Brandis was after the opinion that best represented the govt's stance.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-po...-brandis-and-top-adviser-20161006-grwiyz.html

Fairfax Media can now reveal Senator Brandis sought the advice of former Commonwealth Solicitor-General David Bennett, QC, who served principally during the Howard government, on the same-sex marriage plebiscite after rejecting advice from Mr Gleeson.

 

[pazza]

It's an entirely unworkable situation that can be easily resolved. Eithe rBrandis resigns or he is sacked. Fair to say if there was a no-confidence motion against him right now, he'd be lucky to survive.

 

[Pie eyed]

Brandis is "Shultz" re-incarnate....

Will just close his eyes an ears until he thinks no-ones listening anymore.

 

[Maggie5]

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...quiry-into-veto-over-solicitor-general-advice
Looks like they will both have to front the enquiry, should be fun.

Note to self:
Dear diary, I might be in deep s**t...

 

[benchwarmer5]

Today I was watching a press conference he done on abc24 in the mornin about the plebiscite and he looked dishevelled!
Looked tired and had missed chuncks of chin hair sprouts all over the place.....i hope the pressure is getting to the worm

 

[Juddism]

Brandis would have to be the dumbest AG...seriously, why submit advice to an enquiry if you're going to redact half of it, knowing full-well that Gleeson has the full version?!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-...eson-to-front-senate-inquiry-showdown/7930702

 

[madmug]

Maybe the solicitor-general needs to resign. If he can't get over his ego and work with the governor-general, he might be the one who is the problem!

Love it

 

[pazza]

Maybe the solicitor-general needs to resign. If he can't get over his ego and work with the governor-general, he might be the one who is the problem!

The question is why? He's not the one who has:

• Mislead the Parliament
• Gone against legal convention

 

[Elroo]

WOW!

Senate hearings, McDonald attacking the Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-po...ce-off-in-senate-hearing-20161013-gs23xk.html

 

[madmug]

Just watching the Senate enquiry its obvious Brandis misused the SGs words to 'pad' his own bill with 'concocted' legal & supporting advice put up to Parliament. Cherry picking words that are given in good faith on a different bill, is the same as plagiarism. Its lying.
Politicising the SGs roll is a dangerous action.

 

[Maggie5]

WOW!

Senate hearings, McDonald attacking the Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-po...ce-off-in-senate-hearing-20161013-gs23xk.html

http://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/LiveMediaPlayer?vID={192BC556-B5B7-4F1F-8DC9-A7AB5EC7A54A}
For anyone that wants to watch.
Appalling behaviour by both McDonald and Sen Reynolds?, not letting him finish, misinterpreting what he is saying.
Both have been prepped to attack.

 

[Gough]

Just watching the Senate enquiry its obvious Brandis misused the SGs words to 'pad' his own bill with 'concocted' legal & supporting advice put up to Parliament. Cherry picking words that are given in good faith on a different bill, is the same as plagiarism. Its lying.
Politicising the SGs roll is a dangerous action.

I always thought it was the conservatives respected institutions.

 

[Elroo]

Just watching the Senate enquiry its obvious Brandis misused the SGs words to 'pad' his own bill with 'concocted' legal & supporting advice put up to Parliament. Cherry picking words that are given in good faith on a different bill, is the same as plagiarism. Its lying.
Politicising the SGs roll is a dangerous action.

Yep Brandis has applied a gag order to SG, the SG is ignoring this as he believes its illegal!

• 12:19pm

Unlawful direction
The stakes are raised, yet again. Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson, SC, says the controversial direction issued by Attorney-General George Brandiswhich requires his colleagues to seek his written approval before seeking Gleeson's advice is unlawful.

"My opinion is that the direction is unlawful in at least one and probably two respects," he says.

He says it is contrary to the Law Officers Act as well as the Judiciary Act.

Gleeson says that if someone like the Governor-General or Prime Minister came to him directly for advice he would consider it his legal duty to make a "conscientious decision" to flout the direction and give them advice.

This is going to open a new front in the war with Brandis.

• 12:09pm

Trading barbs
Justin Gleeson and Queensland Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald are at loggerheads, again.

Macdonald tells Gleeson: "If you want to get into the political game, join the Parliament."

Gleeson says it is an "offensive statement" and asks that it be withdrawn.

 

[benchwarmer5]

I always thought it was the conservatives respected institutions.

It was integral 2 them before selling out

 

[madmug]

I always thought it was the conservatives respected institutions.

Substitute 'politicians' for conservatives, add 'respected' & you have a classic oxymoron

 

[Maggie5]

I love The Australians view on this:
Brandis feud may fetch Gleeson a High Court seat under Labor
Anyone who believes Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson will suffer a career setback because of his feud with Attorney-General George Brandis is kidding themselves. This feud might eventually give him the ultimate prize — a seat on the High Court.

 

[benchwarmer5]

ABC24
repugnant is live

 

[Lebbo73]

Love it

The question is why? He's not the one who has:

• Mislead the Parliament
• Gone against legal convention

Brandis is reaming the SG live for all of you to see. Take your blinkers off and listen.

 

[benchwarmer5]

oh s**t he just had spit balls