Dyson Heydon postpones decision on disqualifying himself from inquiry

Dyson Heydon has postponed a decision about whether he should disqualify himself from the unions royal commission.

Royal commissioner Dyson Heydon has postponed a decision about his future.

While Mr Heydon had indicated last week that he “hoped” to make an announcement tomorrow, the Commission said this afternoon that he “is still considering” an application for him to disqualify himself.

He has not said when he will deliver his ruling.

Seven unions have submitted written arguments calling on him to recuse himself on the basis of “apprehended bias”.

This came after Mr Heydon accepted — and then later withdrew from — an invitation to speak to a Liberal Party fundraiser.

LYONS: ACTU won’t force Heydon out quickly

The Commission has postponed its hearings into the NSW and ACT branches of the construction union pending Mr Heydon’s decision.

In a statement this afternoon, the Commission said: “Commissioner Dyson Heydon AC QC has reserved his decision on an application by unions to disqualify himself from the current inquiry.

“On Friday, the Commissioner indicated that he hoped to publish his ruling on Tuesday, 25 August 2015”.

“Mr Heydon is still considering his ruling, which will now not be delivered on that date”.

“The Royal Commission will make a further statement on the timing of Commissioner Heydon’s decision in due course”.

“A public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, 26 August 2015, involving the CFMEU NSW Branch, has been postponed to a date to be fixed”.

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver demanded Tony Abbott act immediately and shut down the inquiry. Mr Heydon’s delay in deciding whether he will stand aside did not stop the Prime Minister from taking action, he said.

“The ACTU has always maintained that the prime minister must shut down his political witch-hunt and stop wasting millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money,” Mr Oliver said in a statement.

“The ACTU again calls on Tony Abbott to act immediately.”

Asked if he would shut down the inquiry, Mr Abbott replied: “Absolutely not.” He said Mr Heydon was a man of utmost integrity and would carefully consider submissions made to him last Friday.

“I can’t imagine it is going to be delayed too long because these are things which are inherently best decided quickly,” he told ABC radio.

Mr Abbott said many serving judges had attended Labor events without attracting accusations of bias.

“There is nothing inherently wrong with going to a Liberal event,” he said.

Mr Abbott said the attack was really on the royal commission not on Mr Heydon.

He said the union movement and Labor were trying to keep subterranean “the rorts, the rackets and ripoffs” uncovered by the royal commission.