A new Solicitor-General has been appointed after a stoush with Attorney-General George Brandis drove the previous one to resign.
Senator Brandis has announced Dr Stephen Donaghue QC will start in his role as Australia's second law officer on January 16, for a period of five years.
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Solicitor-General's downfall: Labor blamed
The government is attempting to shift blame for the resignation of Justin Gleeson, saying the former Solicitor-General spoke to Labor without authorisation. Courtesy ABC News 24.
It comes weeks after Justin Gleeson resigned following a dispute with the Attorney-General over whether he was consulted on a legal change he said undermined his independence.
Senator Brandis said Dr Donaghue was a distinguished constitutional lawyer who had frequently appeared as senior counsel before the High Court.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove has accepted the advice of the government to appoint Dr Donaghue to the role.
"His practice has involved complex and high-profile matters across a broad range of legal areas," Senator Brandis said on Wednesday.
Mr Gleeson's resignation came after Senator Brandis banned ministers - including the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull - from seeking advice from the Solicitor-General without notifying him first.
The controversial amendment was withdrawn by Senator Brandis in November, hours before the Senate was expected to disallow it anyway.
Labor's shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus welcomed the appointment and said he hoped Mr Donaghue was "treated better than Mr Gleeson" in the role.
AAP