Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:23): Senator Collins, I do not—I do not agree with Dr Griffith. As Mr Dreyfus observed recently, if I have learnt anything in my legal career I have learnt that most difficult legal problems are capable of another outcome. I know Senator Collins is not educated in the law, but legal propositions are innately contestable. That is the point about the law. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, a point of order. Senator Wong: My point of order is on relevance, again. The Attorney continues to refer to Mr Dreyfus seeking additional opinions. The issue in question is that this Attorney is trying to stop, prevent, ministers and other parts of the Commonwealth seeking advice from the Solicitor-General. It is entirely different. He is seeking to prevent ministers and other parts of the government seeking independent legal advice from the Solicitor-General unless he ticks off on it. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Brandis. Senator BRANDIS: On this question and previous questions today and previous questions throughout the week the point that is being sought to be made in various ways is that I am on my own on this. Senator Wong: You are. Senator BRANDIS: We have just heard Senator Wong affirm that that is the point of the Labor Party's question. I am quoting my immediate predecessor in office, who also, by the way, happens to be my accuser, and he said that he engaged in precisely the same practice for which I am being criticised by the Labor Party. The PRESIDENT: I have been asked to rule on relevance, as a point of order. Senator Wong: He should withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Withdraw what, Senator Wong? Senator Wong: The assertion that it is precisely the same practice is a mislead. It is not precisely the same practice. No Attorney-General has issued a direction. The PRESIDENT: That is a debating point. I intend to rule on the point of order. Senator Macdonald on the same point of order? Senator Ian Macdonald: Is the leader of the opposition able just to get up and start speaking without even being called by you to make a point of order? Can you bring her to order and make sure she understands and obeys the standing orders? The PRESIDENT: I remind all senators that they must observe the standing orders in relation to seeking the call and being given the call. On the point of order, Senator Wong raised a point of order on relevance of the Attorney-General's answer to the question asked by Senator Collins. The question asked by Senator Collins was 'Does the Attorney-General agree?' The Attorney-General, straight up, said, 'No, I do not agree' and then he enhanced his answer. As I and past Presidents have always allowed, if you answer the question you can enhance that answer providing you are on the topic. Senator Jacinta Collins: He is talking about a different topic. That is the point. The PRESIDENT: That is not a different topic. He is supporting his answer. The Attorney-General has the call. Senator BRANDIS: Thank you very much indeed, Mr President. The point I was making is the reason I disagree with Dr Griffith and agree on one occasion with Mr Dreyfus is that, as Mr Dreyfus says, most legal problems are capable of another outcome. If I have learnt anything in my legal career, I have learnt that. Mr Dreyfus is quite right, because, Senator Collins, the essence of the law, and this direction was a legal rule, is that legal propositions are innately contestable. The PRESIDENT: Senator Collins, a final supplementary question.