Dyson Heydon sexual harassment allegations appalling: Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull praises Susan Kiefel, who he appointed when he was prime minister, for her handling of investigation.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the allegations against Dyson Heydon are shocking. Picture: AAP

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says that the allegations against Mr Heydon were “shocking” and praised Chief Justice Susan Kiefel — who he appointed when he was prime minister — for her handling of the investigation into the former jurist.

Mr Heydon faces civil legal claims and a possible criminal investi­gation in the wake of an independent inquiry that found he sexually harassed six female associates during his decade on the bench.

“There is no way you can describe this other than shocking and appalling,” Mr Turnbull told ABC News on Tuesday.

“You say the law is male dominated, I think that is true in the sense that there are more men in high legal positions than women, but we do have a woman as Chief Justice, who was appointed when I was Prime Minister.

“I think it is great to see the way she has, and the court has taken responsibility for these complaints, they have had it carefully investigated, appointed an independent person to enquire into it and made the appropriate apologies.

“The key here is, this is about power. This is about men abusing their power over women and we must have zero tolerance for that”

Allegations disturbing: Morrison

Scott Morrison has labelled sexual harassment allegations against former High Court justice Dyson Heydon “very distrurbing and very concerning”.

The Prime Minister said he was disturbed by the allegations, but would not commit to stripping Mr Heydon of his Australian honours until there was a full process.

Former High Court judge Dyson Heydon. Picture: AAP

“Allegations of this sort are obviously very disturbing and very concerning and they’re incredibly serious and the High Court has been dealing with that and the Chief Justice has made her comments about this,” he said outside Canberra.

“As I understand, and there will be a proper, formal process that will be followed, I’m sure, in addressing those allegations and, as you know, people’s awards and honours.

“If those processes end in a place where here those allegations have been upheld, there’s a normal process for honours to be dealt with at that time. It’s not appropriate to presuppose those processes.

“That’s not the way these things should be handled. There should be a proper process to deal with this. There will be. They’re very serious allegations.

“They’re very concerning. And very disturbing. And on that basis, I would expect those processes to do their job.”

"It now turns out that the witch-hunter in chief has got his own baggage." @billshortenmp on former justice Heydon being found to have harassed six young women. #9Today pic.twitter.com/F0vPoNYmr5

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) June 22, 2020

Labor is calling for Mr Heydon to be stripped of his Order of Australia honour and opposition frontbencher Bill Shorten also wants Mr Heydon to pay back the salary he earned from the royal commission into trade unions.

“It now turns out that the witch-hunter in chief has got his own baggage,” Mr Shorten told the Today show.

Screen grabs of then Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten's appearance in 2014 before the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

“Why does he get to keep his AC, and if the matter goes to court or there is further investigation, why does he get to keep all his taxpayer earnings from the royal commission?

“This is a time to strip him of all his recognition and get him sorted out.’’

Trade Union Royal Commissioner Dyson Heydon.

Mr Shorten was grilled at the 2014 royal commission and Mr Heydon later described him as an evasive witness. No adverse findings were made against Mr Shorten by the Royal Commission.