Grow a pair Mal - Sack Brandis

[IQS.RLOW]

Waaahhhhh sob snivel.

[Rorschach]

Gillian Triggs must withdraw from truth-telling seminar:
The Australian
October 28, 2016
Jared Owens


Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs must withdraw from a public seminar on truth-telling “given her lax relationship with the topic”, a Liberal senator says.

Professor Triggs, who this month admitted she unintentionally misled parliament, will give the keynote address at next month’s Australian Council of Social Service annual conference in Sydney and appear on the panel “Truth-Telling: Speaking with Conviction, Living with Consequences”.

The panel — which is about the importance of truthfulness, “even when it makes our leaders and decision makers uncomfortable” — also features anti-Islamophobia campaigner Mariam Veiszadeh, social media consultant Dan de Sousa, ABC journalist Linton Besser and anti-poverty campaigner Duncan Storrar, who made headlines after appearing on Q & A in May.

Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz today said Professor Triggs should withdraw from the panel of “prominent left-wing figures” who will “without a doubt, criticise centre-right policies and governments”.

“It seems that Professor Triggs has been unable to open her mouth in recent times without needing to correct the record so having her, at taxpayers’ expense, giving her insights into ‘truth telling’ is actually laughable,” Senator Abetz said.

“Professor Triggs will join with a range of other prominent left-wing figures to, without a doubt, criticise centre right policies and governments.

“Instead of this clear attempt of rebranding herself ahead of the end of her term as president, she should focus on resolving the serious issues within the Human Rights Commission that have developed on her watch.”

“Professor Triggs should withdraw from speaking on this panel or ask that it be renamed to something more fitting like ‘Truth Telling: living with the consequences of being caught out in mistruths’.”

Comment has been sought from Professor Triggs.

The conference program indicates the panel will debate the consequences of stepping up to speak truth to power.

“A healthy society is one in which individuals are able to shine a light on issues and be supported to speak the truth, even when it makes our leaders and decision makers uncomfortable,” the program reads.

“Taking on this role requires courage, conviction, a commitment to the truth and the support of others. Explore the lessons from Australians who have recently stepped up to take on this role — the good, the bad and the racist.”

Pity Triggs and the truth are so soon parted...

[Redneck]

The Australian Lawyers Alliance has joined Labor in calls for the attorney general, George Brandis, to resign over a controversial legal direction that the solicitor general must get his consent before giving legal advice.

The solicitor general, Justin Gleeson, resigned on Monday after a public disagreement with Brandis over the legality of the direction and whether he was properly consulted before it was made.

On Wednesday Liberal National MP Andrew Laming told ABC Radio the direction was no longer needed because Gleeson is leaving his job.

“It’s not a problem now because you are now appointing someone else [as solicitor general],” he said. “This was done because they didn’t trust Gleeson.”

Laming’s account contradicts Brandis’s claim the direction was issued to regularise ad hoc requests for advice from the solicitor general, and was not aimed at limiting Gleeson’s independence.

On Wednesday the alliance, an advocacy group representing 200,000 lawyers and law professionals, called for Brandis’s resignation, citing his “unacceptable and gross infringement on the independence” of the office of the solicitor general.

Its national president, Tony Kenyon, said the requirement to seek permission to get advice was “a particularly gross infringement on [its] independence” and would prevent the governor-general, prime minister, other ministers and departmental heads getting advice without consent.

The controversial direction will be disallowed in the Senate after 7 November, when a committee inquiring into the matter reports. Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and Derryn Hinch have all said they will vote against it.

“It is of deep concern to the profession that some attorney generals appear to have no regard for important and fundamental safeguards on executive power, such as an independent solicitor general,” Kenyon said.

He cited evidence to the Senate committee from Gabrielle Appleby, the nation’s leading expert on the role of the solicitor general, that Brandis’s actions raise serious concerns for the rule of law, and from a former solicitor general, Gavan Griffith, that the direction was reminiscent of keeping a “dog on a lead”.

Kenyon also noted that former high court chief justice Anthony Mason had described Brandis’s characterisation of the law governing provision of legal advice by the solicitor general as “a stretch”.

Kenyon said if Brandis did not resign he should be sacked by the prime minister because he “has not shown the requisite measure of integrity required of an attorney general”.

On Monday the Law Council of Australia, the peak body which represents all lawyers including state law societies and barristers’ associations, praised Gleeson as a person of “the highest integrity and skill” but made no comment on Brandis’s role in the dispute.


The president of the Law Council of Australia, Stuart Clark, said Gleeson’s decision to quit over the impasse due to the national interest was “both selfless and honourable”.

“The office of the solicitor general plays a key role in assisting government, ministers and agencies to discharge their responsibilities and observe the rule of law,” he said.

“It is critical that the legal advice which the solicitor general provides to government ministers and their agencies is frank, fearless and independent.”

Labor has repeatedly called for Brandis to resign, accusing him of misleading the Senate by saying he had properly consulted Gleeson about the legal direction.

Brandis denies that he misled the Senate, arguing he had consulted Gleeson at a meeting on 30 November at which the issue of processes for referring advice were discussed. But Brandis did not tell Gleeson he proposed to make the direction.

Any Labor push to censure Brandis in the Senate is unlikely to succeed, as the Nick Xenophon Team indicated on Tuesday it would not support the move. The Greens have reserved their position until the committee reports on 7 November.

Labor has called for a transparent process to replace Gleeson, including a panel chaired by the secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to draw up a shortlist.

Xenophon has gone a step further, calling for a requirement for parliamentary consultation or approval for senior statutory appointments.

Guardian Australia has contacted Brandis for comment.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... MP=soc_567" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Neferti]

Redneck just posts something for all to
READ in POLITICS .......l but doesn't proffer an OPINION.

Why is "growing a pair" have anything to do with anything?

Who cares what Brandis says or does?

WHY the fuck am I reading and replying to this absolute CRAP?

[Rorschach]

Laming isn't the brightest light on the xmas tree and he's always putting his foot in something... ewwww.... mostly his mouth

[Aussie]

Laming isn't the brightest light on the xmas tree and he's always putting his foot in something... ewwww.... mostly his mouth

So, are you accusing Laming of lying, Roach?

[Redneck]

Redneck just posts something for all to
READ in POLITICS .......l but doesn't proffer an OPINION.

Why is "growing a pair" have anything to do with anything?

Who cares what Brandis says or does?

WHY the fuck am I reading and replying to this absolute CRAP?

Because you are a farkwit I guess!

[Rorschach]

Hmmmm and you are a Troll...

More interesting what will happen to Laming than what will happen to Brandis, but with malcolm in charge probably nothing will happen... that seems to be his speed.

[Redneck]

Hmmmm and you are a Troll...

More interesting what will happen to Laming than what will happen to Brandis, but with malcolm in charge probably nothing will happen... that seems to be his speed.

At least we agree on something!

[Outlaw Yogi]

To be honest I don't think it matters much who did what, and who is right or wrong, because in politics it is normal to purge officials and bureaucunts appointed by your opponents seen to be working against your interests.

I have the suspicion that if Gleeson hadn't demonstrated his partisan sentiments Brandis & Co would have just ignored him and let him keep collecting his pay.