Brandis, Sen George

Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:41): Well, I said in January and I said my involvement began on 3 March, and so it is not three months. The premise of your question is wrong. But, Senator Wong, when 78B notices are received—which in the normal course of events is the first time at which the Commonwealth would be made aware of litigation to which it had not been joined as the defendant—they are considered and processed by the department. I will check when my office became aware of the 78B notice, if indeed that was the first communication with my office.