George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I will not defend a person who has damaged the reputation of the institution that they are meant to lead. I will not defend a person who has damaged the reputation of the institution that they are meant to lead; no, I will not. I will tell you the truth: I do not have confidence in Professor Triggs, because I believe that she played a partisan game, and that is the one thing that the leader of the Human Rights Commission must never do.

As for the rest of the members of the Human Rights Commission, there are some who come from the Labor side of politics, like Dr Tim Soutphommasane, there are some who come from the Liberal side of politics, like Mr Tim Wilson, but they do a good job because they are wise enough, they are careful enough and they are canny enough not to ensnare the Human Rights Commission in partisan politics. That is the reason why I and people on my side of politics have lost confidence in the president while maintaining confidence in the— (Time expired)

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.