Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister representing the Attorney-General. I refer to evidence at Senate estimates today from the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department that he was specifically authorised by the Attorney-General to offer the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission a senior international legal role. What was this role? What consultation occurred with other senior members of the government? Was this role offered with the authority of the Prime Minister?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a matter of public record that the Attorney-General has deep concerns about the directions and the priorities of the Human Rights Commission on Professor Triggs's watch. As to specific details of what somebody said to somebody else at sometime in the past, I can only take advice and come back to the House if that be the answer.