THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS MEMBER FOR ISAACS

MEDIA RELEASE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CUTS TO PAY FOR TIM WILSON APPOINTMENT Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC has condemned reports today that the Australian Human Rights Commission will need to cut existing programs in order to fund the $320,000 salary of newly appointed Commissioner Tim Wilson. "We now know that the hamfisted process for Mr Wilson's appointment didn't include any other candidates being considered," Mr Dreyfus said. "It also appears the Governor General hadn't had the opportunity to sign off on the appointment before it was publicly announced. "Now we find out that his position doesn't come with funding for his salary, so the Commission will need to cut existing programs to accommodate it. Mr Wilson is already on the record calling for the Human Rights Commission to be abolished it looks like he may already get his way, with the Commission forced to cut programs to pay for his salary. "If the new perspective Mr Wilson is expected to bring as a Human Rights Commissioner is so important, Senator Brandis needs to come up with the funding to pay for his position.

"Otherwise Senator Brandis needs to come clean about the kind of cuts he expects the Human Rights Commission to make to pay for his appointment," Mr Dreyfus said. MONDAY 23 DECEMBER 2013