Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Let me quote from an article by Professor Ben Saul—a barrister and professor of international law at the University of Sydney.

The President of the Human Rights Commission holds the next closest thing to a judicial office, being both tenured and exercising quasi-judicial powers. Brandis's actions—

Government senators interjecting—

Isn't it interesting how they always have to engage in a personal attack on anybody who is criticising them! It is fascinating, isn't it? I think in Rugby they might call this playing the man, not the ball—right? The quote continues:

Senator Brandis's actions should be viewed in this light—as if he were leaning on a judge to resign because he didn't like the court's decision.