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, 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) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was no job offered to the president—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

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) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You'll be sweating ballot papers!

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

The member for Chifley will withdraw.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

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.