December 7, 2015
By Josephine Tovey
...A lawyer of almost 50 years experience, (click here) who had also previously been a Dean of Law at the University of Sydney, Professor Triggs believed the commission's detailed inquiry into children in detention was sound. This confidence was only reinforced by the personal nature of the attacks on her.
"It was very hard for them to attack the substance of what we were saying, so the next best thing was to allege that I was politically biased."
But Professor Triggs knew retaining her composure was critical to the work she was doing.
"I knew if I went too far and showed emotion, I could be very quickly dismissed as a sort of, emotional woman who didn't have a grasp of the political realities, and who could be easily pushed over."
It was this ability to continue in her role, to refuse to back down either on the issues or over her own position, in the face of extraordinary pressure, that saw eminent voices in the legal profession rally around her, and earned Professor Triggs the admiration of many in the Australian public, including the readers of Daily Life. Hundreds nominated her their Woman of the Year for 2015, and the judges agreed she was the worthy choice....
When most politicians are seeking to end the career of a standing authority it becomes obvious, her work struck something men believe is better off not said.
By Josephine Tovey
...A lawyer of almost 50 years experience, (click here) who had also previously been a Dean of Law at the University of Sydney, Professor Triggs believed the commission's detailed inquiry into children in detention was sound. This confidence was only reinforced by the personal nature of the attacks on her.
"It was very hard for them to attack the substance of what we were saying, so the next best thing was to allege that I was politically biased."
But Professor Triggs knew retaining her composure was critical to the work she was doing.
"I knew if I went too far and showed emotion, I could be very quickly dismissed as a sort of, emotional woman who didn't have a grasp of the political realities, and who could be easily pushed over."
It was this ability to continue in her role, to refuse to back down either on the issues or over her own position, in the face of extraordinary pressure, that saw eminent voices in the legal profession rally around her, and earned Professor Triggs the admiration of many in the Australian public, including the readers of Daily Life. Hundreds nominated her their Woman of the Year for 2015, and the judges agreed she was the worthy choice....
When most politicians are seeking to end the career of a standing authority it becomes obvious, her work struck something men believe is better off not said.
