Triggs kicked at contract's end
The Federal Government will not renew the contract of Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs.
In what could signal an end to the Coalition’s (and News Corp’s) long-running campaign again Professor Triggs, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed someone new will lead the HRC when Prof Triggs’ term ends in the middle of next year.
It may not be too surprising for those who have heard Professor Triggs on many occasions say she would need seek a new contract.
“People cannot expect to have their terms renewed,” Mr Turnbull told Sydney radio station 2GB.
“In an office like this you serve your term and sometimes if people want to have it renewed it might be renewed.
“But in this case there will be a new president of the Human Rights Commission,” he said.
Professor Triggs was appointed by the Gillard government, and caught the ire of the Coaliton in 2014 when she commissioned a report, The Forgotten Children, into children in immigration detention.
At the time, Tony Abbott labelled the report a “political stitch-up” and said his government had lost confidence in the highly-regarded lawyer.
The Government opened fire on Triggs when she wrongly claimed The Saturday Paper had misquoted her as saying Australian politicians were uneducated and ill-informed. She denied the comments in a Senate Estimates Committee hearing, but later issued a statement saying; “Upon further reflection I accept that the article was an accurate excerpt from a longer interview.”
Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz – one of the most ardent, vocal, and frequent critics of Prof Triggs – rushed to welcome the end of the “bumbling” lawyer’s role.
“The Australian people are fed up with the repeated incompetence displayed by Professor Triggs and this announcement by the Prime Minister will be welcomed by many in the community,” he said.
Greens immigration spokesperson Nick McKim said it was the “final indignity” in a long vendetta against Professor Triggs.
“She should regard the way she has been treated as a badge of honour,” he said.