Morning Mail: Gillian Triggs, McClure welfare report, Greece bailout deal, #terrortunnel

ardian Australia's Morning Mail Tuesday 24 February Jul 2014 g
Abbott on national security
The president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, yesterday confirmed that the government sought her resignation “about a month ago” over the 'Forgotten Children' in detention report. Did attorney general George Brandis break the law?Labor has formally asked the AFP to investigate whether the job offer made on behalf of the attorney general, George Brandis, was an inducement that constitutes "corrupt and unlawful conduct". Gillian Triggs told the Senate hearing she was "very shocked", saying it was a "disgraceful proposal" that she resign from the commission in return for other work. Pushing forward with outdated talking points and outdated attitudes, Barry O’Sullivan joked to Ian Macdonald during the hearing, “I thought you might like to hear a man’s voice.” They might have done better to listen to the women, writes Lenore Taylor, because they were so busy interrupting and talking over Triggs they seemed to miss the fact she was saying something that could land the government in serious trouble. See how the extraordinary scenes unfolded in Senate estimates yesterday as committee chair Ian McDonald attacked Gillian Triggs over the 'Forgotten Children' report he hasn't read: "I haven't bothered to read the final report because I think it is partisan".
Australian news and politics
Disability payments are set to be restricted in aradical welfare shake-up being announced today. Claimants would have to show they can’t work more than eight hours a week, their incapacity would be expected to last at least five years, and young people wouldn't be eligible for support until they're 22. And no one will be worse off, the report says. Follow all the developments and fallout today in thepolitics live blog with Katharine Murphy.  After New Zealand’s PM revealed a joint mission could be happening, Julie Bishop has refused to rule out sending more Australian troops to Iraq.Asio has confirmed almost all Australians who have returned from fighting in Syria and Iraq did so more than two years ago, before Isis existed. Western Australia will need twice as many firefighters in 2030 to cope with climate change, a report warns. The royal commission into child sexual abuse has heard a teacher accused of abuse at Knox Grammar was given a positive reference by the school's headmaster.
Around the world
Greece’s new leftwing government faces months of fraught negotiations with its creditors after securing - but only conditionally - a eurozone lifeline that wins it time until the end of June. London markets hit a record high on news of the deal. In a key victory for environmentalists, Barack Obama has used his veto powers to reject legislation to approve the Keystone pipeline from Canadian tar sands to refineries along the Gulf coast. Nearly three years to the day after Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in Florida, the US Justice Department has closed its investigation and George Zimmerman will not face federal charges. Britain has become the first country in the world to approve the conception of three-person babies. Babies conceived through “three-person IVF” would have biological material from three different people – a mother, father and a female donor – to prevent incurable genetic diseases.
One last thing
#TERRORTUNNEL! Or something, discovered in Toronto. The quotes from police about the mystery tunnel/bunker are the highlight of this story. Have an excellent day – and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter @earleyedition.