This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has criticised the outgoing Human Rights Commission president’s attack on the government’s human rights record as “misguided”.

On her last day in the role on Wednesday, Gillian Triggs accused the Coalition of being “ideologically opposed to human rights”, arguing they have regressed under her five-year term.

“It’s a totally misguided statement,” Bishop told ABC radio on Thursday.

Gillian Triggs: Australian government 'ideologically opposed to human rights' Read more

Triggs said on Wednesday she was disappointed to say Australia was regressing on almost every human rights front – women, Indigenous affairs, homelessness and asylum seekers. Her criticism comes as Australia is a shoe-in to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Bishop said she had been telling leaders around the world about the country’s credentials for the position and has received more than 140 written pledges.

That’s more than Australia received when the Labor government won the campaign for a spot on the UN Security Council, she said.

“I have been overwhelmed by the support,” Bishop said.