Dyson Heydon awaits fate as commission discloses further emails
The enquiry into Union’s Royal Commissioner Dyson Heydon has been delayed due to further enquiry into the trade union controversy. Revelations of further email exchanges on the issue of Heydon’s acceptance to address a Liberal party fundraiser has held back the decision on the multi-million dollar dispute for a few more days.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has been given until 5 p.m. on Friday to submit written statements regarding the emails. However, Heydon hasn’t yet set a time for his ruling, which is due on Monday. He was supposed to submit his response on the allegations brought against him on Friday, but with the latest twist in the story, the ruling on his fate has to wait until Monday.
Unions claim that Heydon’s acceptance of the invitation to speak at the event shows a political allegiance. But after Jeremy Stoljar SC, the counsel assisting the royal commission, warned him of possible media interest in the matter, he refused to attend the event.
Dave Oliver, ACTU national secretary, wrote to the commission on Thursday, requesting it to reveal further email exchanges regarding the matter. The emails have been kept from the Unions lawyers and bear considerable significance in throwing light on the cause that prompted Heydon to withdraw.
On August 12, former journalist and lawyer Marcus Priest called on the NSW Bar Association's publications manager Chris Winslow, expressing astonishment at Heydon’s acceptance of the invitation to address the event dedicated to Sir Garfield Barwick, which is a Liberal party function.
After this, Stoljar received an email from Winslow which read, “Is Dyson Heydon aware that the Garfield Barwick Address, which he is due to deliver, is a Liberal Party fundraiser?”
Stoljar replied that he would raise the topic to Heydon. Stoljar, however, did not communicate to Heydon about the emails and chose to fix a meeting with the commissioner on August 13 at 9 a.m. instead.
Shortly after Fairfax Media reported that Heydon will be delivering speech at the Liberal Party backed event, a formal statement was released by the royal commission which stated "prior to any media enquiry being received" Heydon had "advised the organisers that if there was any possibility that the event could be described as a Liberal Party event he will be unable to give the address, at least whilst he is in the position of royal commissioner."
The spokesperson for the royal commission has been contacted by Fairfax Media for comments.
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