Government advisers face a testing time

COALITION'S TOP ADVISER TRACK RECORD:

* Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson. Resigned under pressure from Attorney-General George Brandis over ministers having to seek Brandis' permission to get advice.

* Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs. Coalition ministers have accused her of playing politics and refused to express confidence in her as she raises concerns about rights abuses, especially in the immigration detention system. Still holds onto her job.

* Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes. Position was abolished in 2014, then restored in May 2016 with new person in role. Innes found it "insulting" a wind farm commissioner was appointed while people with disabilities had no full-time representative.

* Agriculture secretary Paul Grimes. Quit after dispute with minister Barnaby Joyce over changes to the Hansard parliamentary record. He wrote to the minister that he would "no longer have confidence in my capacity to resolve matters relating to integrity with you".