Triggs talks tripe one last time as she blasts her critics before retiring

Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, speaks during 'RightsTalk: Inspiring change in human rights' at Sydney Town Hall last week. Photo: Getty Images

Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs goes for The Australian’s associate editor Chris Kenny. The Age, Saturday:

He’s never phoned me or made any attempt to understand anything. It’s just been a full-on attack.

But Kenny has tried to tee up interviews with Triggs several times over the years. A Sky News producer’s email to Triggs’ office, October 20 last year:

Chris Kenny is hoping Professor Gillian Triggs can join him on his Sky News Viewpoint program …

Kenny on Sky News, April 24 last year:

I’d love to have an interview with Gillian Triggs but she won’t turn up.

It’s funny how Triggs forgot these things. Kenny’s email to the HRC requesting an interview for The Australian, November 24, 2014:

I wonder if you could please again forward a request to Professor Triggs for an interview.

Triggs says she delayed a 2013 inquiry on children in detention because of a possible early election. Senate estimates, November 20, 2014:

The fact that an election was imminent had been announced by the Prime Minister in, I think, about March. So we knew it was going to be very soon. Of course, we did not know exactly when.

Then-prime minister Julia Gillard announcing the actual election date eight months before. National Press Club, January 30, 2013:

I today announce ... an election for the House and half of the Senate, to be held on Saturday the 14th of September.

Triggs forgot if she talked about the inquiry with Gillard’s immigration ministers. Senate estimates, November 20, 2014:

I certainly did not discuss that (the inquiry) as far as I recall with the minister, and I did have reasonably regular meetings with the minister — of both governments, as a matter of it.

It all flooded back to her after lunch. Senate estimates, continued:

Senator Barry O’Sullivan: But your memory has improved during the break, because you now remember discussing it with Chris Bowen and Tony Burke.

Triggs: I do remember ...

She really does have a shocking memory. The Australian, March 2:

Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs will likely be recalled before the Senate to explain “misleading” evidence about the Bill Leak case ...

Triggs said she received no submissions from the late Bill Leak or his lawyers to say a cartoon under investigation was “in good faith”. Senate estimates, February 28:

We received no response.

Leak’s lawyer, Justin Quill, did so in a letter to the HRC on October 21 last year:

The cartoon was created in “good faith” and for a “genuine purpose in the public interest” in accordance with s.18D ...

Chris Kenny responds to Triggs’s Age interview on Twitter, Saturday:

Lovely day remembering Bill Leak with his family and friends; come back online to find more mischief from @GillianTriggs. Apt I suppose.

Luckily, Professor Triggs, we’ll never forget you. Simple Minds, July 10, 1984:

Don’t you forget me / Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t.