Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General confirm that he asked the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department to convey the offer of a specific role to the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission? Can he confirm that this offer of a specific role was conveyed to the president in Sydney on 3 February this year?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

These matters were addressed by me and by the secretary of my department, Mr Moraitis, in Senate estimates last Tuesday. The account by Mr Moraitis and my account were full, thorough and accurate, and I have nothing to add to what was said on that occasion, because there is nothing more to say.

But, Senator Collins, you should reflect on your disgraceful attack upon Mr Chris Moraitis during the debate in this chamber earlier on today. Senator Collins, you have form for this. I remember, Senator Collins, that many years ago, when you and I sat on the children overboard inquiry, you engaged in a similar disgraceful attack.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Order, Senator Brandis! We will not continue until there is a bit more order.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You engaged in a similarly disgraceful attack on another distinguished public servant—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Jane Halton, now the Secretary of the Department of Finance.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis—

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It seems, Senator Collins, you cannot help yourself. It is all very well—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis, there has been a—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Senator Moore, you have a point of order.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I should not have to do this, but it is for the Attorney-General to direct his comments through you and not directly across the chamber at Senator Collins.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Moore. I remind all senators of the need to address their remarks to the chair.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Quite right, Senator Moore—quite right. Mr President, it is one thing for the opposition to attack political opponents. That is fair game. But what Senator Collins descended to this morning in the debate in this chamber was an attack on the integrity—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On my left!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Gillian Triggs is not a public servant. Gillian Triggs is not a public servant, and her integrity has never been attacked by anyone.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Senator Brandis—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order, Senator Conroy! A point of order, Senator Moore?

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Mr President, through you rather than across the chamber—this time to an interjection.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, he did not directly talk not through the chair or to the chair that time. Senator Brandis, you have the call.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You got two out of two, Claire!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One and a half, Senator Ronaldson—one and a half. I do like to make eye contact, but nevertheless, Senator Parry, I will focus myself entirely on you. It is one thing, Mr President, for there to be spirited criticism and political attacks on a political opponent, as I suffered this morning. That is fine. That is the way this process works. But senior public servants doing their job ought not to be the subject of the kind of despicable character assassination we saw on Mr Moraitis and, in years gone by, Ms Halton by Senator Collins.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. It was your mission, Attorney—your mission.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the chair, Senator Collins.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. Why, I ask the Attorney, was a specific role offered to the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not have my transcript here. I did before, and if I had it here I would read to you precisely what I said last Tuesday when I addressed that issue specifically, to which I have nothing to add.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer to the evidence of the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission that a request for her resignation was 'very clearly linked' to the offer of another role. Why did the Attorney-General arrange for an inducement to be offered to procure the resignation of the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just before I call the Attorney-General, Senator Collins, you are really impugning the Attorney-General with the way you framed that question. You were suggesting that the Attorney-General has induced someone. You cannot do that, Senator Collins, so can I ask that you rephrase that question, and then I will allow the question.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will rephrase the question: why did the Attorney-General arrange for what can be regarded as an inducement to be offered to procure the resignation of the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission? I note it has been regarded as such other than by me or Senator Wong; many others have.

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! Senator Collins, you have removed the direct implication. I will call the Attorney-General.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. The evidence before the Senate estimates committee was unequivocal: Mr Moraitis gave uncontradicted evidence that no inducement was offered, I gave uncontradicted evidence that no inducement was authorised, and Professor Triggs did not suggest that an inducement had been offered to her.