Yesterday’s revelation that Justice Dyson Heydon accepted an invitation to attend a Liberal Party event that may or may not have been a fundraiser is a disaster for the Abbott government.
The former High Court judge, who was appointed by the Coalition to head the politically motivated Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption, denies he knew the Sir Garfield Barwick Address was a party political event.
But justice relies on the perception of impartiality. Whether Heydon knew he had agreed to speak at a Liberal Party fundraiser or not is actually irrelevant. What is relevant that he accepted the invitation.
When a sitting judge or royal commissioner agrees to attend a public function run by the same political party that is employing him in a currently active (and politically controversial) royal commission, this destroys the public perception of that judge’s impartiality.
The result is that he is now perceived to be biased, and any of findings will be perceived to be tainted.
He should resign. Today.
Spot on Crikey.
The longer Dyson Heydon leaves it, the worse it will be.
A hatchet job done by a Liberal Party stooge.
Agreed! Think of the fuss the Libs would have made if the situation was reversed.
His bias was there for all to see.
Firstly if he wasn’t partial to the LNP abbott wouldn’t have selected him.
Next he criticised Shorten for answers being to long. My Gawd how does that compare with the RC for grain sales to Iraq where a succession of LNP ministers “couldn’t recall” or “I don’t remember”. This would be the first time a witness at an RC has been criticised for being to fulsome.
How many ALP organised functions has Pfo Trigg gone to?
Should never have been there. There should never have been a there for him to be at. But it’s great to see That liberal party arrogance and hubris working for us.