Unions consider legal action against Royal Commissioner Heydon

The unions are not going to let this lie. After the Royal Commission into union corruption has dragged them before it, costing $bazillions in legal fees, the revelation that the Royal Commissioner himself was to be a keynote speaker at a Lieberal fundraising event has sent the unions feathers flying.

And why wouldn't it. It was obvious from the very beginning that the whole thing was politically motivated by Abbott to discredit the union movement and opposition leader Bill Shorten. You know the old Lieberal scare thing..... "union bosses union bosses union bosses bla bla...." Evil unions bla and all that. 

Now it's clear to all; Commissioner Heydon has ties to the Lieberal party and the whole Royal Commission is compromised. Dare I say a "mistrial"? It has been a political witch hunt at the cost of $80million to the taxpayer.

The unions want his head. Abbott is doing the same predictable head in the sand thing that he did with Choppergate; dig in and praise the commissioner as doing a marvelous job bla. On this case the praise was Heydon is "an honourable person". Hardly likely to calm to union mobs who now want his blood. 

Australian unions are used to fighting the Lieberals. They won't go away. They spent 11 years fighting back against Howard and ultimately his WorkChoices. They may have falling membership but their strength remains. A force not to be downplayed.

If Abbott didn't have a fight with the unions he's got one now. All I can say is bring it on. I know who'll be left standing at the end of the day, and it won't be Abbott. 

Mr Abbott defended Mr Heydon on Friday, saying he was "an honourable person". 

It is expected that unions named in the royal commission letters patent will meet as soon as next week to discuss legal options for removing the commissioner and shutting down the inquiry which has cost them tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. 

The unions include the Transport Workers Union, Australian Workers Union, the Health Services Union and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. 

Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon wants the federal government to reimburse more than $1 million he said the union was forced to spend in appearing before the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. 

"We demand that the money we have been forced to spend on the royal commission should be returned to our union so it can be used to improve the lives of transport workers and their families," Mr Sheldon said. 

Australian Workers Union national secretary Scott McDine said his union met lawyers on Friday to explore possible legal action. 

"We are considering all the options available to us," he said. Read more  

The people want Abbott's Royal Commission into unions shutdown. #insiders pic.twitter.com/FVCPO4F3C9

— Sally McManus (@sallymcmanus) August 15, 2015