House debates Questions without Notice
Australian Human Rights Commission
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
2:36 pm
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, representing the Attorney-General. On Tuesday, the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department said a 'specific role' was considered for the president of the Human Rights Commission. Minister, what was that role?
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:37 pm
There was no job offered to the president—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Excuse me, I have said four words. Would you just wait? I repeat: there was no job offer made to the president of the Human rights Commission. There was no request for her to resign and there was no inducement offered. A role was raised that related to international affairs, the details of which—
Ed Husic Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer
You'll be sweating ballot papers!
Ed Husic Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer
I withdraw.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
As the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department said in Senate estimates, it was a sensitive matter that he did not wish to give details of in Senate estimates, so I do not give details of it.