Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, is it the case that Dyson Heydon AC, QC after he had been appointed royal commissioner accepted an invitation to speak at an event knowing full well it was organised by the Liberal Party?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am happy to do my best with that question, and let me at the outset say that this government fully supports the professionalism and the impartiality of Dyson Heydon QC and this government fully supports the necessity of the royal commission into trade union corruption. On the question of the professionalism and the impartiality of former High Court judge Dyson Heydon, let us never forget that this is a distinguished Australian who served with great integrity as a judge of the New South Wales Court of Appeal for three years. He served with great integrity as a judge of the High Court for almost a decade. This is a man of extraordinary integrity who, as was pointed out by someone who is no great friend of this government, Julian Burnside QC—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr Husic interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The members on my left will cease interjecting. The member for Chifley is warned.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Dyson Heydon is a man of honour and, on the subject that was raised by the Manager of Opposition Business, after Mr Heydon became aware that it was a Liberal badged event, he withdrew.

Mr Husic interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley will leave under 94(a).

The member for Chifley then left the chamber.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I may say so, my understanding is that there is likely to be an application before the royal commission later today, and it would be inappropriate for members of this House to offer any further comment on this matter.