Plibersek slams Triggs’ backing for Green

Tanya Plibersek has attacked Gillian Triggs for backing the Greens in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara.

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek. Picture: Aaron Francis

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has attacked Gillian Triggs for backing the Greens in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara, ­declaring the former Australian Human Rights Commission president is supporting a party racked with “bullying allegations and factional warfare”.

The leading Labor Left figure said her party’s candidate, Josh Burns, was the only one who had a “real commitment” to local schools in the bayside seat, after The Australian revealed Professor Triggs endorsed Greens candidate Steph Hodgins-May in a speech to 500 of the minor party’s supporters.

“If Gillian Triggs wants to back a party that’s falling apart at the seams, that’s lost a third of its members because of bullying allegations and internal factional warfare, that’s for her to explain,” Ms Plibersek said yesterday while visiting a primary school in the electorate.

Mr Burns, vying to replace outgoing Labor MP Michael Danby, said Ms Hodgins-May would be a poor representative of the large contingent of Jewish voters in the area. Ms Hodgins-May came under fire in the 2016 election for snubbing a candidate debate organised by Australian Jewish News and Zionism Victoria.

“Last election voters will remember that Steph Hodgins-May boycotted a debate put on by Jewish organisations, which is outrageous,” Mr Burns said.

“It shows exactly the contempt the Greens have for the Jewish community, and their history of extreme anti-Israel views won’t be welcome in this election.

“The Greens have had a shocking 24 months riddled by bullying, misogyny and sexual misconduct claims.”

Labor Left MPs yesterday distanced themselves from previous support for Professor Triggs in her role as AHRC president, arguing they were merely defending the institution that was under sustained attack from the Coalition government.

Ms Hodgins-May said she would run a “positive and inclusive campaign”.

“(I) won’t resort to these negative and misleading attacks that we have grown tired of from (Mr Burns’) former boss, Michael Danby,” she said. “I am proud to have the public endorsement of Gillian Triggs based on my personal experience of standing up for human rights and environmental justice.”

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said the party’s presence was needed in the next parliament given the “strong likelihood Bill Shorten will become our next prime minister”. “Labor can throw mud but we’ll focus on our positive plan,” he said.