Attorney-General George Brandis says he only became aware on Friday that Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson had spoken with Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus during the election campaign.
Mr Gleeson revealed to a Senate inquiry on Friday he told Mr Dreyfus, the shadow attorney-general, he had not been consulted by Senator Brandis on a new legal direction announced in May just as parliament rose for the election campaign.
"I consider that he ought to have done so and I am shocked that he did not, particularly given the fact the government was at the time in caretaker," Senator Brandis told the hearing in Canberra.
"I cannot imagine why Mr Gleeson chose not to reveal his dealings with the opposition in the election campaign."
Senator Brandis was also concerned Mr Gleeson had told the inquiry of the fact he had been sought for advice on the composition of the Senate.
"Mr Gleeson did not seek my consent or authority to disclose that fact of advice on that topic being sought ... he ought to have done so but he did not."
Senator Brandis said he had offered on August 16 to meet with Mr Gleeson to discuss the legal services direction but Mr Gleeson had yet to respond.
"I find that curious," Senator Brandis said.
Mr Dreyfus said it was an "absolutely" appropriate for him to meet Mr Gleeson, given the directions were tabled right before parliament was dissolved for the election.
"It's a complete nonsense to suggest that this is in any way a breach of the so-called caretaker conventions," he told reporters in Canberra.
