Let’s clarify, Gillian Triggs admitted that her testimony to a senate hearing about her relationship with the government was incorrect and as a result misled parliament. It was a bad mistake for someone so permanently in the government’s cross hairs, but let’s keep it in context. There is no implication or evidence that any of her statements about our offshore gulags (you can’t call them processing centres when no one seems to actually get processed there) are in any way incorrect. When asked about her statement that some ministers were basically incompetent, Triggs backtracked and said it was taken out of context. When an audio recording of the interview was produced, Triggs was forced to agree that it was actually quite accurate. Triggs’ greatest error here is either her candour in the interview or in my view her attempt to backtrack on her denigration of politicians. Let’s be honest her assessment is not exactly wrong. But contradicting herself is dangerous ammunition for her adversaries, who will exploit it for all that it is worth (and more) so that her credibility and public profile is tarnished as a result.
But please liberal MPs and your mouthpieces in the Murdoch press, spare me the outrage. Misleading parliament and the country is what you all seek to do on a regular basis. That’s why you have all your media advisors and spokespersons. Does Professor Triggs have the same privileges? A government minister or the former PM is lying about whether Abbott offered a deal over gun laws to Senator Leyjonhelm. Where is your outrage? How about the deputy PM’s false statements about the provision of immediate drought relief to farmers that misled parliament far more egregiously than the Human Rights Commissioner’s words. Where is your outrage there? And how do you feel about George Brandis?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories |