Govt no confidence in Triggs: Abbott

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says his government has no confidence in the nation's human rights chief.

Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs has been the subject of savage criticism from the government following the release of a report into children in immigration detention.

Mr Abbott previously has described the inquiry as a "blatantly partisan" exercise, which had been timed to damage the coalition and not the previous Labor government.

Professor Triggs told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday she had been offered "other unspecified work" by the government in exchange for her resignation.

Labor leader Bill Shorten asked the prime minister in question time whether he was aware of the "inducement" offered to Prof Triggs.

"It is true that the government has lost confidence in the president of the Human Rights Commission," Mr Abbott said.

He said the government wanted to see children out of detention and the way to do it was to "stop the boats".

Mr Abbott said he did not know what matters had been canvassed with Prof Triggs.

But he said the commission president herself had declined to call it an "inducement".