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

Mr Speaker—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Members on my right, including the Treasurer, will cease interjecting. I cannot hear the question.

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. Given Dyson Heydon AC QC does not see an issue with the agreement to speak at a Liberal Party event, what does the Prime Minister say to Australians who think it is absurd for Mr Heydon to sit in judgement of whether he is fit to continue his commission? Will the Prime Minister finally show some leadership and deal with his captain's pick for royal commissioner?

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

If people before a court or a tribunal believe that there is an issue with the presiding officer, there are standard procedures that they can use. I would suggest to the member who asked the question that he does have a few mates who have appeared before the royal commission, and he could suggest to his mates that, if there is any problem with the royal commissioner, they should bring an application in the usual way. The fact that they have not—

Mr Burke interjecting—

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

The member for Watson.

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

brought an application in the usual way makes me think that members opposite are even more feral than the ACTU when it comes to protecting union privilege.