Attorney-General Christian Porter says the response to the consultations for the national apology to victims of child sexual abuse has been very strong with a total of 167 attendees at consultation sessions so far. “There are further consultations coming up in Ballarat, Melbourne, Bendigo, Newcastle and Sydney … it is a very important process and is going very well,” he said.

Porter also says there’s “some level of common sense” to suggestions that former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who set up the royal commission, should have a role in the apology. “I do think those things are best dealt with by exchange of letter or meetings directly between the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister.”

In this interview Porter also speaks about foreign interference laws, elder abuse, the amalgamation of the Family and Federal Circuit courts, and why he rejects calls for change to section 44 of the constitution.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.