Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. An email from Gregory Burton, chair of the lawyers branch of the Liberal Party of New South Wales, of 10 April released by Mr Heydon today confirms that Mr Heydon was 'amenable to delivering the sixth annual Sir Garfield Barwick address in August 2015 if the commission has completed'. Prime Minister, does this not confirm that Mr Heydon was aware of the conflict well in advance?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know members opposite are striving to find—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Herbert. The member for Rankin is warned.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

but I would urge them to read the full statement which Commissioner Heydon has made to the royal commission. Members opposite have it; it has obviously been made available to them I would urge them to read the whole statement and I would urge them to quote accurately and fairly from the whole statement. It is true that the royal commissioner was invited to address this gathering which was not a fund raiser—it was associated with the Liberal Party—

Opposition members interjecting—

To quote from the email he received in April last year: 'We organise forums on matters of professional and legal policy interest. Topics have included: bail, arbitration reform, PPSA, right to silence, workers comp reform, family provisions, revenue law and sentencing, et cetera. These to date have attracted high-quality presenters and enabled an engaged audience prepared to comment and participate.' The royal commissioner's statement went on to say that earlier this year he received contact by email from the coordinator while he was giving lectures in England. He says:

When I received the contact by email from the co-ordinator, I remembered that I had agreed to give the Garfield Barwick address in August 2015.

However, in March 2015, I overlooked the connection between the person or persons organising the event and the Liberal Party which had been stated in the email of 10 April, 2014.

I also overlooked the fact my agreement to speak at that time had been conditional on the work of the Commission being completed before that time.

Ms Ryan interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lalor will cease interjecting,

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The email?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Jagajaga has been warned, and I remind her again.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He says, 'I overlooked the fact my agreement to speak at that time had been conditional on the work of the Commission being completed before that time.'

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton will leave under 94(a). He has been warned twice.

The member for Moreton then left the chamber.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask members opposite to read the statement of the royal commissioner in full. If members opposite believe something untoward has happened, they should state precisely what that is and then we can deal with it.