On 15 September 2016 the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 8 November 2016: the nature and scope of the consultations prior to the making of the Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016, with particular reference to:

(a) the extent to which any consultation drew on the knowledge or expertise of persons having expertise in the relevant fields;

(b) whether persons likely to be affected by the proposed instrument had adequate opportunity to comment on its content;

(c) what was the form of the consultation, including whether any written submissions were sought;

(d) the timing of when any consultation occurred; and

(e) any related matter.