ACTU may take Heydon to High Court as Abbott defends the ‘honourable’ judge

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is more pressured than ever to take action against Dyson Heydon. The royal commissioner has been accused of bias after the discovery that he was scheduled to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.

Heydon withdrew himself from the event on Thursday, citing the reason he was not aware that the event was organised by Liberal Party. However, it appears not to be enough to convince Ged Kearney, the ACTU president.

Kearney emphasised that the union was thinking of legal action as one of the options. He said that the matter, if taken to court, should be handled by the High Court. It was discovered that Heydon was supposed deliver a speech at the Liberal Party's annual Sir Garfield Barwick Address in Sydney.

Kearney told Abbott in a letter on Friday that the prime minister must terminate the royal commissioner. “It is untenable for Justice Dyson Heydon, who you appointed personally to oversee the royal commission, to continue in his role,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted the letter, “And if the Prime Minister is not prepared to take strong action like we have asked him to do, then it is one of the things we think we may have to pursue.”

Heydon has had a long career which includes a 10-year service at the High Court. His image has been quite transparent so far. In fact, he has established high reputation until his alleged association with Liberal Party was revealed.

An editorial on Brisbane Times on Friday says there is no evidence that Heydon’s judgments on the High Court have been politically influenced by any means. However, his claim that he was not aware of the political nature of the dinner seems “extraordinary” for a judge of his conscientiousness.

While Abbott has been being pressured by unions to sack Heydon, he defended the royal commissioner, calling him “an honourable person.”

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