New role was discussed with HRC president Gillian Triggs: Bishop

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has hinted that Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs might have instigated talk of an alternative role after the government lost confidence in her.

The matter has now been turned over to the Australian Federal Police, who will examine if Professor Triggs was offered an inducement to resign from her role as president.

Mr Abbott and Attorney-General George Brandis said they had no confidence in Professor Triggs following her report into children in detention.

Mr Abbott described the report as a "political stitch-up" designed to embarrass his coalition government.

Today the issue dominated question time, with Labor pursuing Mr Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop over evidence revealed in a Senate hearing that Attorney-General George Brandis discussed Professor Triggs’ future with his departmental secretary.

The hearing also heard they had discussed another senior legal role.

Today both Mr Abbott and Ms Bishop denied there had been any offer.

“There was no request, no inducement,” Ms Bishop told question time.

However, she did later admit “a role was raised that related to international affairs”.

"As the secretary of the attorney-general's department said in Senate estimates, it was a sensitive matter that he did not wish to give details of in Senate estimates so I don't give details of it."

Labor pounced on the admission with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten demanding to know the difference between a “job offer” and a “specific role”.

The Opposition also unsuccessfully tried to censure the PM for his part in attempting to “mislead” the public and what it dubbed an “unprecedented attack” on Professor Triggs.

Professor Triggs has kept relatively quiet through the proceedings but today tweeted her gratitude to her supporters.

"Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to tweet, email & write letters of support. Your encouragement matters to all at @AusHumanRights," she tweeted.