The Revelations
Dyson Heydon is the head of the royal commission into trade union corruption, a $61 million inquiry that was launched by the Abbott government. His role has come under scrutiny after Fairfax Media revealed two weeks ago he was listed as a guest speaker at the Sir Garfield Barwick lecture, a Liberal Party fundraiser.
Accusations of Bias
The revelations sparked accusations from Labor, the Greens of apprehended bias and that Mr Heydon could not continue in the role. Mr Heydon said he withdrew his attendance at the lecture once he became aware it was a fundraiser, but the events leading up to his decision to withdraw from the event are now under question.
Dyson Heydon is now due to decide on his future as royal commissioner on Monday. Photo: Anna Kucera
Will he continue as chair
Mr Heydon has been assessing whether or not he should resign after unions put a claim to the commission that acceptance of the invitation showed a political allegiance. Mr Heydon had been due to make a decision on his future on Tuesday, but then deferred until Friday. He has now delayed his decision again until at least Monday.
ACTU leader Dave Oliver has called on the commission to release the full facts. Photo: Anna Kucera
Who knew what and when
ACTU national secretary Dave Oliver wrote to the commission on Thursday, asking it to urgently disclose further emails about what prompted Mr Heydon to withdraw from the event on the day Fairfax Media reported his involvement. It came after a report in The Australian suggested Mr Heydon only withdrew after he was tipped off about possible media interest by counsel assisting the royal commission Jeremy Stoljar, SC. The new documents showed Mr Stoljar was told the lecture was a Liberal Party fundraiser on August 12 – the day before the first headlines appeared – and he raised the issue with Mr Heydon the following morning. The commissioner said he did not believe this was the case and insisted it was "ok to go ahead" as long as they confirmed the event was not a fundraiser. The correspondence is outlined in a diary note of Mr Stoljar's that was released to union officials on Thursday.
Counsel assisting the commission Jeremy Stoljar, SC. Photo: Simon Bullard
The future of the commission
The furore over Mr Heydon has the potential to derail the entire royal commission, for which the Abbott government has budgeted $61 million. Prime Minister Tony Abbott insists it "will go on" with or without Mr Heydon. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who has appeared before the commission on issues related to his time as leader of the Australian Workers Union, has said Labor will not stand in the way of the commission continuing, so long as Mr Heydon steps down. But lawyers say it is not so simple and it would be difficult for the commission to continue because a new royal commissioner will not have had the opportunity to observe and interrogate witnesses who have given evidence.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the royal commission should go on with or without Mr Heydon. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
