By political correspondent Emma Griffiths
Thursday 26 February 2015
Video: Turnbull says Triggs criticism 'misses the point' (ABC News)
Photo: Malcolm Turnbull has described HRC president Gillian Triggs as a "distinguished academic", despite the Prime Minister's earlier comments. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
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Cabinet Minister Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed the debate about Gillian Triggs' impartiality as one that "misses the point", describing her as a "distinguished" figure.
The comments stand in stark contrast to those of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Attorney-General George Brandis, who have repeatedly declared the Government has lost confidence in the Human Rights Commission (HRC) chief.
The Government and the HRC have been at loggerheads following the release of the commission's damning report into children in detention, which was described by Mr Abbott as a "blatantly partisan, politicised exercise".
Both Senator Brandis and Mr Abbott have told parliament that they have lost confidence in Professor Triggs.
However, when asked about the furore on Wednesday morning, Mr Turnbull said he did not want to get into "personalities".
"This debate about Gillian Triggs misses the main point," he said.
Triggs takes punches meant for Labor
"The main point is the children."
Mr Turnbull defended the Government's record in stopping asylum seeker boats from reaching Australia and in transferring children out of detention.
"I'm not going to buy into this discussion about Gillian Triggs," he said.
"I've known Gillian Triggs for many years. She's a very distinguished international legal academic.
"Obviously this has become a very controversial issue, and there's all sorts of allegations flying around. I don't want to get into that.
"Other people can do that if they wish."
Who is Gillian Triggs?
- Attended University of Melbourne, earning Bachelor of Laws (1967) and Doctor of Philosophy (1982)
- Earned Master of Laws from Southern Methodist University in Texas while working as legal adviser to Chief of Police
- Joined law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques in 1987, working as a consultant in international law
- Practised as barrister in Sydney and was Professor at Melbourne Law School (1996-2005)
- Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (2005-2007)
- Director of the Institute for Comparative and International Law at the University of Melbourne
- Became Dean of the University of Sydney Law School in 2007
- Retired as Dean in July 2012 to take up HRC appointment
- Was Acting Race Discrimination Commissioner from July 2012 to August 2013
- Launched National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention in February 2014
In Question Time, it became apparent that other people — led by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten — did want to get back into the debate.
Labor focused on revelations on Tuesday from Professor Triggs at a Senate committee that days before the report was released, the chief bureaucrat of the Attorney-General's department asked her to resign.
Department secretary Chris Moraitis said he did not ask for her resignation but that he told her Senator Brandis had lost confidence in her and they discussed the possibility of her taking on another government role.
Labor has referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police, which has confirmed it is investigating.
"The police will evaluate this referral as per usual processes," the AFP said in a statement.
Labor tried to pressure the Government over the matter in Question Time.
Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus asked, "What was the alternative role the Government wanted Professor Triggs to take?"
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's response — "I can advise that no such offer was made" — drew laughter from Opposition benches.
Ms Bishop added that she had spoken to Mr Moraitis on Wednesday morning and accepted his account of the discussion.
"He confirmed to me that Professor Triggs was not asked to resign, that she was not offered an inducement to resign and I would back the secretary of the Attorney-General's department over any one on that side," she told Parliament.
Video: Bishop denies HRC president Triggs offered different role (ABC News)
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten continued the line of attack, accusing the Government of playing "word games" and "bullying" Professor Triggs.
"This attack on the President of the Human Rights Commission is a new low by the most powerful man in Australia against an upright proper and decent woman," he said.
The Prime Minister dismissed the criticism as irrelevant.
"Well, I don't know what Shorten QC is trying to establish here, but all he is establishing is he is not interested in the real issues that concern the Australian people - yet again Canberra insider nonsense that's all this is," Mr Abbott said.
