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Labor seeks to widen attack on Brandis

Labor has used Senate question time to widen its attack on Attorney-General George Brandis over his stoush with the solicitor-general.

Australian Attorney-General George Brandis
George Brandis will face a Senate inquiry over his stoush with the solicitor-general. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Attorney-General George Brandis has angrily defended himself during a fiery Senate question time as Labor seeks to widen its attack over his stoush with the solicitor-general.

Repeatedly accusing him of being "slippery" with facts, the opposition on Tuesday drilled Senator Brandis with questions about how he consulted on a range of decisions, from the marriage equality plebiscite to citizenship laws.

The questioning descended into a screaming match, with Senator Brandis insisting his views on consultation stood in "stark contrast" to those of his Labor counterpart Mark Dreyfus.

"Mr Dreyfus thinks that consultation means making up your mind first and talking later and telling someone what you're going to do but when I consult people, I ask them for their views," he yelled.

Senator Brandis has faced a week-long attack from Labor who insist he must resign over allegations he misled parliament.

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It comes after Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson told a Senate inquiry last week he was not consulted on changes to how government legal advice can be sought - contradicting what Senator Brandis has told parliament.

Senator Brandis insists he did consult Mr Gleeson, blaming a difference of opinion as to what constitutes consultation.


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