George Brandis’ valedictory speech warned against attacks on the law, took a shot at Mark Dreyfus

George Brandis delivered a valedictory speech about the importance of the law before taking a dig at Mark Dreyfus.

Former Attorney-General George Brandis after making his valedictory speech in the Senate chamber. Picture: AAP

Former attorney-general and Australia’s incoming high commissioner to the United Kingdom George Brandis has warned colleagues against attacking courts and judges as he farewelled federal parliament after nearly two decades in the Senate.

The Liberal National Party MP gave his valedictory speech in front of a packed house that included members of the legal fraternity such as Chief Justice Susan Kiefel, political “opponents” like former Labor MP and now Family Court judge Robert McClelland, Malcolm Turnbull and numerous colleagues from the lower house.

Senator Brandis spoke of “several robust occasions” when he placed his duty to the law as first law officer “above political advantage”.

“I have not disguised my concern at attacks upon the institutions of the law: the courts and those who practice in them,” he said.

“To attack those institutions is to attack the rule of law itself. And it is for the attorney-general always to defend the rule of law — sometimes from political colleagues who fail to understand it, or are impatient of the limitations it may impose upon executive power.”

His message of caution was delivered after several of his Liberal colleagues avoided legal charges for criticising Victoria’s judiciary and a recent stoush between Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Victorian supreme court judge Lex Lasry.

First elected to the Senate in May 2000, Senator Brandis said classical Liberal values were “under greater challenge than at any time in my memory”.

He said parties of the left had become even more authoritarian, particularly towards intellectual freedom and freedom of speech, while “powerful elements” of right-wing politics had abandoned concern for the rights of the individual and conservatism’s respect for institutions in favour of “intolerant populism”.

Senator Brandis heaped praise on colleagues past and present but had one attack up his sleeve for opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus, whom he said would always “get me out of trouble”.

“One of the many reasons I am cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the next federal election is that I believe the Leader of the Opposition (Bill Shorten) is quite close to Mr Dreyfus, and often seeks his advice,” he quipped.

The Liberal National Party’s preselection for Senator Brandis’ replacement will occur on March 10, with around a dozen people firming as candidates.

Among the frontrunners are former LNP senator Joanna Lindgren and Brisbane barrister Amanda Stoker, with many in the party believing the seat should go to a woman because there are no female federal Coalition MPs in Queensland.

Senator Brandis also took joy in noting one of the most controversial episodes of his political career — a bitter feud with former solicitor-general Justin Gleeson, which culminated in the latter’s resignation — as he congratulated LNP senator Ian Macdonald on a cross-examination of the Sydney silk.

“Your cross-examination exposed Mr Gleeson’s secret conversations with the opposition, concealed from the government, his client, concerning matters to which an obligation of professional confidence plainly attached — that was the end of that,” Senator Brandis said.

“We may say of your cross-examination, it wasn’t pretty, but it was pretty effective.”