Professor Gillian Triggs 
President, Australian Human Rights Commission

 

A barrister and solicitor by trade, Professor Triggs has been President of the Australian Human Rights Commission since July 2012. In February 2014 she became the target of verbal attacks from the Abbott Government following the release of the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention. It was later revealed during a Senate estimates hearing that the secretary of Attorney-General George Brandis's department had asked her to resign because of the report. The government said it viewed the timing of the release of Professor Trigg’s report as a “political stitch-up”. Professor Triggs refused to stand down and has since become a champion for refugee and asylum seeker advocates in Australia.

“Professor Triggs has integrity, resilience and great intelligence. She has suffered great challenges over the last two years and maintained focus and consistency throughout. She is an amazing person and a great role model for women.”

 

Links:

www.humanrights.gov.au