The Royal Commission will continue as is.
Dyson Heydon has decided to stay put as the head of the Trade Union Royal Commission, despite seven unions under investigation calling for his resignation.
The former High Court judge today told the Commission he was the right person to continue in the role, which pays more than $3000 a day.
Several unions – including the ACTU, CFMEU and AWU – asked Justice Heydon to stand himself down as the public could perceive that he was biased in performing his role after he accepted an invitation to speak at a Liberal party event.
Justice Heydon said he overlooked the political connection of the Sir Garfield Barwick address in late September. His office released a series of emails showing the organisers had assured him the event was not a fundraiser.
After more than a week of deliberating about his position, he delivered his verdict at 2pm.
“In my opinion the applications must be dismissed,” Mr Heydon said.
The Royal Commission website crashed immediately after the decision as interested parties scrambled to read the reasons for the decision.
In recent weeks, historical links between Justice Heydon and Prime Minister Tony Abbott were revealed – including that Justice Heydon was on a selection panel that awarded Mr Abbott a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship in the 1980s, the ABC reports.
Prior to Justice Heydon handing down his decision, Mr Abbott said the Trade Union Royal Commission must continue whether he stands down or not, News Limited reports.
“Obviously what the commissioner does today is a matter for commissioner,” Mr Abbott said.
“But we have seen an abundance of evidence of corruption and criminality result from these hearings.
“The work of the royal commission is absolutely vital and as (former Labor minister) Martin Ferguson said this is not a political plaything. This is something that is doing very good work for the union movement and ultimately Labor as a whole.”
Top Comments
The question is - would the Govt and their minions have been quite so happy with a commissioner who accepted similar invitations from similar fund-raising functions held by the ALP?
If not, then why so now?
That's just using a hypothetical to distract from the real question. What exactly are the unions so desperately trying to hide?
Evidence is not presented by the commissioner, just heard. People are not tried by the commissioner, evidence is sent to the relevant authorities.
The commission has uncovered evidence of the misuse of members’ money, bribery and corruption that has led to four arrests and 26 union members being referred to 11 agencies, including the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
SO FAR.
Absolutely - if said commissioner thoroughly investigated and uncovered the extent of unethical, unlawful and criminal behaviour by trade unions and their representatives that the TURC has to date, including recommendations for police investigations etc. Not if the hypothetical commissioner you propose was going to help the trade unions continue to sweep their behaviour under the carpet, safe from public view.
If you're going to squeal, at least have something to say.
Fantastic news. The disgraceful smear campaign by Labor and the Unions against this honourable man has failed. Brendan O'Connor tried valiantly to protect his brother Michael O'Connor who heads up the CFMEU to no avail. Now, on with the cleaning out of the Augean Stables.