Senator BRANDIS (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Arts and Attorney-General) (14:55): I am extremely surprised that Senator Singh would criticise the government for not replacing Mr Innes with a full-time commissioner because, Senator Singh, for the entirety of the period of the previous government, for every single day there was not a day on which the Human Rights Commission was fully constituted. For every single day of the previous Labor government one or more of the human rights commissioners had a double commission. And, Senator Singh, I am particularly surprised that you would be criticising the government for not intending to replace Mr Innes with a full-time commissioner, because for most of the period of the Labor government in which you served Mr Innes held two portfolios. Mr Innes was from 2005 until 2009 the Disability Discrimination Commissioner but during those periods he also acted as the Race Discrimination Commissioner and the Human Rights Commissioner respectively. Senator Singh, I heard your speech in the matters of public interest session earlier today when you said that it was shameful that Mr Innes was not being replaced by a full-time commissioner. If it is shameful, why was it not shameful that for most of the period of the Labor government Mr Innes held two portfolios? Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: The minister is entitled to be heard in silence. If there are supplementary questions, you have got the time then. If you wish to debate it, it is after 3 o'clock. Senator BRANDIS: That, by the way, Senator Singh, included the entirety of the time for which responsibility for disabilities was held by Mr Bill Shorten when he was parliamentary secretary for disabilities. For the entire time that Mr Shorten had responsibility for this area Mr Innes served as both the Disability Discrimination Commissioner and the Race Discrimination Commissioner. So I am very surprised to hear this criticism come from your side of politics. (Time expired)