Statement from the President regarding the Hon J D Heydon AC QC

19/08/2015

It is not appropriate for the New South Wales Bar Association to comment on the substantive issues relating to the current controversy surrounding the Royal Commission into Trade Union and Corruption. It has been reported today that that controversy is to be the subject of an application to be made before the Royal Commissioner on Friday.

However, the Bar Association notes that personal abuse of the Royal Commissioner is not appropriate. Any application for the Royal Commissioner to recuse himself should be dealt with in the ordinary manner based on well-established legal principles. The Royal Commissioner should not be the subject of personal attacks and should be permitted to determine the matter based on the law and the evidence which is relied upon in support of the application.

Jane Needham SC

President