Extract from ABC News
Posted
The president of the Human Rights Commission says she
will not agree to Government demands for her to resign over allegations
she has politicised her office.
Speaker of the House of
Representatives Bronwyn Bishop told the ABC's Q&A program Ms Triggs
was attracting criticism for the timing of an inquiry into the treatment
of children in immigration detention."That report of yours was seen by many - including me - as one that, if it was to be done, should have been under the previous government when there were 2000 children [in detention]," she said.
"But you chose to do it afterwards and that made it very political. It has made you a very political figure."
Professor Triggs also criticised the Government's approach to revoking the citizenship of terrorism suspects.
But it is her persistent criticism of the Government's asylum seeker policies that has led senior Government figures including Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to call for her to consider her position.
Ms Bishop said Professor Triggs should consider running for office.
"You have to make the decision, are you a statutory officer, carrying out an obligation with the protection of that office, or do you wish to be a political participant?" she said.
"If you do wish to be a political participant then you have to no longer be a statutory officer and perhaps stand for office."
Professor Triggs told the program it was her job to be critical of the Government.
"Were I to receive frequent praise and commendation from the Government I think the Australian people would have a good reason to ask for my resignation," she said.
"Many of our findings and recommendations are interpreted in political ways and I'm afraid in the human rights context, it's very hard not to be perceived to be political."
She said the Commission always planned to hold its inquiry in 2014 and also investigated Labor's policies in government.
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