House debates Questions without Notice
Australian Human Rights Commission
Natasha Griggs Solomon, Country Liberal Party
Madam Speaker, I just wanted to draw your attention to the member for Lingiari and ask that he withdrawal the very unparliamentary comment he made to the Prime Minister.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
To assist the House, the member should withdraw.
Warren Snowdon Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories
I do not know what it is that I—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I would ask the member for Lingiari to withdraw if he used an unparliamentary term.
Warren Snowdon Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories
Madam Speaker, with great respect I do not know what I said that was unparliamentary. But if I have upset those cheap petals over there, I do withdraw.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Lingiari will leave under 94(a).
The member for Lingiari then left the chamber.
I call the Leader of the Opposition.
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, and again today, the Prime Minister has said of the President of the Human Rights Commissioner that she was not asked to resign and no inducement has been offered. But at Senate estimates his Attorney-General said that Professor Triggs's position was untenable and that he hoped she could be encouraged to resign or would be willing to serve the government in other capacities. Why does the Prime Minister persist with a position that no-one believes?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:08 pm
This is not a question. It is much more an accusation than a question from the Leader of the Opposition. I repeat: the President of the Human Rights Commission has not been asked to resign. No inducement has been offered, as the President herself has declared to Senate estimates. But the government has lost confidence in the President because the President, in consultation with Labor ministers, thought that it was political to have an inquiry when the number of children in detention was almost 2000.
Ms Owens interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Parramatta will desist and is warned.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The President thought it was political to have an inquiry into children in detention then.
Mr Dreyfus interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
So what did she do? She had an inquiry, presumably a political inquiry, when the number of children in detention was 200 and declining all the time. I am delighted to have questions on this subject from the Leader of the Opposition. I invite the Leader of the Opposition to continue asking questions on this subject because every question that he asks gives me the chance to declare that members opposite were total failures when it comes to border protection. Thanks to consistent failure, thanks to a weakness of will, thanks to a lack of ability to govern on the part of members opposite—
some 50,000—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Rankin will withdraw and then leave under 94(a).
Jim Chalmers Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
I withdraw 'pathological liar'.