NEWLY re-elected Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus has been appointed attorney-general of Australia.
The widely expected appointment was confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week. Dreyfus served as shadow attorney-general while Labor was in opposition, and was the attorney-general under Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard the last time Labor was in power.
Dreyfus said that his first move as attorney-general would be to address “the need to repair and strengthen the keystone of our democratic system – the rule of law.”
“A crucial aspect of this will be legislating before the end of this year Labor’s commitment to the establishment of a powerful, transparent and independent national anti-corruption commission. Labor will also act to restore integrity to the process of appointments in the portfolio by returning to the transparent, merit-based system we practiced when last in government, including for positions such as those on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Australian Human Rights Commission,” Dreyfus said.
“I will also be working closely with my colleague, indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney to put a voice to parliament in the constitution. The Uluru Statement from the Heart, delivered five years ago, remains a deeply generous offer for a partnership to pursue meaningful reconciliation as a nation. This is an offer our nation cannot afford to let slip by.”
Dreyfus was a barrister before being elected the member for Isaacs in 2007. He retained the seat at last month’s federal election, expanding his margin to 6.8 per cent.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 8 June 2022
1 Comment
Congratulations to Dreyfus on his new appointment. Strengthening the rule of law is all well and good, but what will he do practically for the Isaacs community?