Social media users have pushed the hashtag #IStandWithGillianTriggs to trending point in the wake of allegations that the Abbott Government offered Gillian Triggs work in exchange for her resignation as president of the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The hashtag trended across Australia overnight, attracting tweets from the legal, political and media communities.
Lawyer Jen Robinson, who has served as part of Julian Assange’s legal team, tweeted that Professor Triggs’ “independence and ability to investigate government abuse is essential for accountability in our democracy”.
Former Greens politician Amanda Bresnan tweeted that Professor Triggs was a “classy person with mighty integrity”, while current Greens leader Christine Milne stated that “strong women of integrity are head and shoulders have the bullies and cowards who try to silence them”.
Other social media users stood by the government, posting on social media with the hashtag #IDontStandWithGillianTriggs.
The Abbott Government has defended its criticism of Professor Triggs and the Commission’s report into the detention of asylum seeker children, which Prime Minister Tony Abbott described as a “political stitch up”.
Mr Abbott’s comments have been supported by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who accused Labor of playing politics by referring allegations involving the AHRC head to the federal police.
The referral was made following appearances by both Professor Triggs and Attorney-General George Brandis at Senate Estimates on Tuesday, where the latter told the committee that the "reputation of the commission" would not survive its president's reputation of political partisanship.
"I felt that the political impartiality of the Human Rights Commission had been fatally compromised," Senator Brandis said.
Recommended Reading
Triggs resignation saga referred to AFP
