THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
Brandis Makes Up Rule To Gag Human Rights Commission
Senator Brandis confirmed in Senate Estimates today that he invoked an imaginary rule to insist on his staff sitting in on meetings between the Opposition and the President of the Independent Human Rights Commission.
Professor Triggs confirmed that it is standard for her to advise the Attorney-General as a courtesy when she meets with opposition Members of Parliament, however until recently the Government has not insisted on a political adviser from the Attorney-General's Office sitting in on the meeting.
In response to questions from Labor Senator Jacinta Collins, Senator Brandis attempted to make a nonsensical argument that the rule existed under Labor, but ministerial staff were not always sent to monitor meetings.
The fact is Labor never sent ministerial staff to sit in on meetings with the President of the Human Rights Commission.
As an independent statutory office holder the President should be free to have frank discussions with opposition Members of Parliament without being monitored by the government.
Professor Triggs was forced to confirm this, directly contradicting Senator Brandis:
PROFESSOR TRIGGS: I have to say that in my time, and I understand for the last four, five years at least, there has never been a request for a pairing in this sense, and that's not based on any rule, it's been a convention that we have not been asked to do that.
The presence of a senior staff member from the Attorney-General's Office monitoring any discussion would obviously limit the ability of the President to hold open and frank discussion with any Member of Parliament.
His actions show the complete disregard Senator Brandis has for the independence of the Australian Human Rights Commission.
THURSDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2014
