Public service lawyers must defend truth: Gillian Triggs Features Public servants must be “eternally vigilant in maintaining their tradition of frank and fearless advice based on evidence” in the post-truth era, according to former…
Gillian Triggs to headline Power to Persuade symposium after AHRC term expires Friday June 16, 2017 By The Mandarin News Many will be eager to hear Gillian Triggs' side of the controversial efforts by the then-Abbott government to delegitimise both her and the commission following…
Jobwatch: WA's top bureaucrat, Harvard scholarships, last chance to replace Gillian Triggs Monday April 24, 2017 By The Mandarin Career Matters The WA government needs a new top bureaucrat, the Australian National University needs a public policy guru, and there's two Harvard Business School scholarships up…
Triggs: public servants should know human rights obligations Wednesday February 15, 2017 By David Donaldson Features Public servants should at least be aware of the human rights treaties to which Australia is party and the obligations they entail, says Gillian Triggs…
Tom Burton: truth to power a victim of political turmoil Tuesday October 25, 2016 By Tom Burton Features If governments want frank advice to avoid the mistakes of projects like the NBN and the pink batts scheme, then ministers need to promote, not…
'Top-heavy' Human Rights Commission straining under cuts Monday May 9, 2016 By Stephen Easton News ESTIMATES: The Australian Human Rights Commission is becoming "top-heavy" and budget cuts have hampered the ability to deliver, president Gillian Triggs has warned senators.
Wanted: disability commissioner, under big freedom umbrella Wednesday March 23, 2016 By Harley Dennett News A job advertisement published by the federal Attorney-General invites more questions than answers, reigniting the debate about the need for a dedicated disability discrimination commissioner.
Politicians take note: statutory officers deserve respect, as does their advice Thursday December 17, 2015 By The Mandarin Features Australia's quasi-independent nature of its statutory officers requires a mutual civility and respect. When politicians break that model, it undermines our democratic credentials, writes Danielle…
Government off the record: the limits of transparency Monday March 16, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features Public officials should always create and carefully retain records of any important discussions, and make sure all parties agree they are accurate. But according to…
'Contemptible' attack on Moraitis not fair game: Brandis Monday March 2, 2015 By The Mandarin News Politicians are fair game, George Brandis says, but public servants aren't. The Attorney-General defends his secretary Chris Moraitis after a baptism of fire in Senate…
Tom Burton: how 'independent' is the AHRC anyway? Thursday February 26, 2015 By Tom Burton Features "Independent" statutory bodies like the Human Rights Commission are, in reality, beholden to ministers and departments over funding and direction. The current environment makes Gillian…
The minister, the job offer and the secretarial messenger Wednesday February 25, 2015 By Jason Whittaker Editors' Picks Labor wants police to investigate the pressure Attorney-General's Department secretary Chris Moraitis applied to human rights commissioner Gillian Triggs to stand down. Do they have…
Estimates grill: questions for Lloyd, tributes for McPhee Tuesday February 24, 2015 By Harley Dennett News Commission heads came under attack early in Estimates, but the imminent departure of Auditor-General Ian McPhee did bring politicians together, briefly, to reflect on his…
