The Australian Senate has formally chastised Queensland Premier Campbell Newman for his disparaging comments on the legal profession, Australian Greens spokesperson for legal affairs Senator Penny Wright said today.

"Mr Newman's recent comments on lawyers and judges have been ignorant and irresponsible," Senator Wright said.

"He clearly has a very limited understanding about the fundamentals of the law that keep our democracy strong.

"His disdain for the legal profession is alarming and he's backing it up with extreme legislation.

That the Senate:

1.      notes the Queensland Premier has made recent public statements that:

a.       any lawyer acting for a member of a motorcycling gang is part of what he described as a criminal gang machine, and will say and do anything to defend their clients;

b.      members of the legal community, including the judiciary, are living out of touch with society and do not understand what the community wants from the law; and