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. In an extraordinary statement today, Dyson Heydon AC QC has confirmed that he accepted an invitation to speak at a fundraiser knowing full well it was organised by—and I quote Mr Heydon—'one of the lawyer branches of the Liberal Party, of the New South Wales division'. Doesn't this make it clear that the royal commission has been politicised from the start and the Prime Minister should withdraw Mr Heydon's commission?

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

I would not accept without carefully checking the statement which has been put to the House by the Manager of Opposition Business. I would not accept without carefully checking because it would not surprise me if members opposite were determined to verbal people who deserve respect.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield is warned.

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

Let me make it absolutely crystal clear that this government defends the professionalism and the impartiality of the honourable Dyson Heydon, a former judge of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, a former judge for almost a decade of the Australian High Court who has been said by no less a critic of this government then Julian Burnside to be 'a profoundly honourable man'. So not only do we support the impartiality and professionalism of former High Court judge Dyson Heydon, we also absolutely support the necessity of this royal commission into union corruption. Members opposite should be very careful about smearing a distinguished former judge in an attempt to cover up their betrayals of the workers. They should be very careful about smearing a former judge in an attempt to cover up the facts that are already speaking for themselves before that royal commission—because what is abundantly clear from what has been revealed at this royal commission on numerous occasions is that union officials ripped off the workers in order to help themselves.

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

For the benefit of the House, I seek leave to table the statement from Commissioner Heydon issued today. It is his statement.

Leave not granted.