8 Dec 2023

Government keen to change how Human Rights Commission operates

From Morning Report, 8:20 am on 8 December 2023

The new Government has signalled it wants to change the inner workings of the Human Rights Commission.

On Thursday, the Justice Minister, Paul Goldsmith, refused to express confidence in the Commission's Chief, Paul Hunt, and said its decision to appoint a co-chief executive role, undertaken by Julia Whaipooti, was not "appropriate".

Meanwhile, the ACT Party is reigniting calls for the Commission to be abolished entirely.

The chief executive of the Human Rights Commission, Meg de Ronde, says the organisation is an independent crown entity and its ability to promote human rights without interference from the government is essential.

Meg de Ronde spoke to Corin Dann.