23:29

In Senate Question Time, the attorney general George Brandis has been asked about his decision on Thursday to rescind his order giving him control over access to advice from the solicitor general.

Brandis said that he had rescinded the direction because acting solicitor general Tom Howe believed the new solicitor general “should be greeted with a clean slate”.

Brandis maintained the direction was a mere matter of “housekeeping” that did not change the process reflected in the Legal Officers Act.

The attorney general said the process for how the solicitor general is briefed would be discussed when the position is filled shortly.

Brandis denied the direction was made to target former solicitor general Justin Gleeson and said that it was Labor’s actions that had caused him to appear before the Senate committee and ultimately resign.