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Gillian Triggs’ contract will not be renewed, PM says

Malcolm Turnbull said there will be a new president of the HRC after Professor Triggs' term expires.

Malcolm Turnbull said there will be a new president of the HRC after Professor Triggs' term expires. Photo: ABC/AAP

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed his government will not renew the contract of the Human Rights Commission president, Gillian Triggs.

Many Coalition MPs have criticised the commission and Professor Triggs over issues such as her position on offshore immigration detention.

Her term is due to end in the middle of next year.

Mr Turnbull told Sydney radio station 2GB Professor Triggs would not remain in the role after that.

“People cannot expect to have their terms renewed,” Mr Turnbull said.

“In an office like this you serve your term and sometimes if people want to have it renewed it might be renewed.

“But in this case there will be a new president of the Human Rights Commission.”

Mr Turnbull also reiterated Professor Triggs had been appointed by the Gillard government.

A spokesman from Professor Triggs’ office said she would not be commenting on the remarks from the Prime Minister.

It comes after Professor Triggs conceded last month that she had told a journalist some politicians were uneducated and ill-informed, despite initially denying the comments in a Senate Estimates Committee hearing.

Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne said she had made “substantial errors of judgement” by commenting on politicians.

But Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused the government of attacking Professor Triggs in an attempt to detract from its own problems.

Coalition backbencher Eric Abetz, among Professor Triggs’ fiercest critics, said the news was welcome.

“The Australian people are fed up with the repeated incompetence displayed by Professor Triggs and this announcement by the prime minister will be welcomed by many in the community,” he said in a statement.

-ABC

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