Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, representing the Attorney-General. In light of the foreign minister's answer, how does that answer sit with the following exchange from estimates yesterday:

Senator WONG: So a specific role was mentioned by the Attorney in his conversation with you?

Mr Moraitis, Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department said:

Yes, and we conveyed that to Professor Triggs.

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

Yesterday in estimates the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department said that no inducement was offered to Gillian Triggs and that she was not asked to resign. I have spoken to the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department this morning and 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 anyone on that side. If that is what the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department said, then I believe the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In light of the strong endorsement by the foreign minister of the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to table the secretary of the department's words.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted? It is already on the public record.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is indeed, Madam Speaker.