MEDIA STATEMENT 13 October 2025
Today I am deeply honoured to be appointed by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley as the Shadow Attorney-General in the Shadow Cabinet.
Before entering Parliament, I spent 16 years practising as a barrister, so returning to the legal portfolio feels in many ways like coming home. Public life, law and justice have always been at the heart of my professional life, and I take this new responsibility with a profound sense of duty to the Australian people and to our democratic institutions.
For the past several years I have dedicated much of my work in Parliament to strengthening Australia’s national security and defending the rule of law through my role on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. To allow me to fully focus on my new responsibilities, I will be stepping down as Deputy Chair of that Committee.
I want to thank my good friend and colleague Julian Leeser MP for his dedicated work as Shadow Attorney-General and for his continued contribution to our team. Julian is a person of great intellect, integrity and conviction, and I know he will remain a powerful advocate for the values we share.
I also extend my congratulations to Phillip Thompson OAM MP, who will be recommended to take up the role of Deputy Chair of the PJCIS. Phil is one of the most capable and passionate voices on national security and defence in our Parliament, and I have every confidence he will continue the vital oversight and bipartisan work of that committee.
As Shadow Attorney-General, my focus will be on upholding the rule of law, protecting Australians’ freedoms, and ensuring integrity, fairness and accountability remain at the core of our justice system.
I look forward to working with my colleagues, legal professionals and the broader community as we continue to serve Australians with conviction and purpose, whilst holding this Government to account.
[ENDS]
Media Contact: Brendan West – 0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
