The Attorney-General has dodged questions over his decision to keep the Solicitor-General’s advice on the Voice referendum under wraps.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told Neil Mitchell releasing the Solicitor-General’s advice would “be inconsistent with long-standing practice of successive governments”.

Last year, the government released the solicitor-general’s advice on Scott Morrison holding half a dozen secret portfolios while serving as Prime Minister, but Mr Dreyfus insists that was a “very, very different situation”.

Press PLAY below to hear the conversation

“Unlike Mr Morrison’s secret ministries, this proposed amendment to the constitution is public, it’s there for all to see,” he said.

NEIL MITCHELL: “It was reported that both you and the Solicitor-General had concerns about the High Court implications and you took it to the advisory panel where it was debated at length — is that untrue?”

MARK DREYFUS: “Of course there was debate about the final form of the words but I’m not going to comment on private discussions.”

NEIL MITCHELL: “Fair go! You’ve got the Solicitor-General’s advice secret, your discussions are secret. The public needs to know on this. They want to support it, they desperate want to support it!”

Image: Michael Masters/Getty Images