8th Sep 2015, 3:58 PM – Senate Motions - Royal Commission on Trade Union Governance and Corruption - John Heydon

The same number of senators voted for and against the motion, which means it failed. It was introduced by South Australian Senator Penny Wong (Labor).

Motion text

(1) That the following Address to His Excellency, the Governor General be agreed to:

To His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd)

Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander in Chief of the Defence Force

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY—

We, the Senate of the Commonwealth of Australia in Parliament assembled, respectfully submit That the Honourable John Dyson Heydon AC QC, whom Your Excellency requested to make inquiry into and report upon the governance arrangements of separate entities established by employee associations or their officers (Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption), by his conduct in accepting an invitation to speak at a function raising campaign funds for the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) has failed to uphold the standards of impartiality expected of a holder of the office of Royal Commissioner.

Accordingly we respectfully request Your Excellency to revoke the Letters Patent issued to the Honourable John Dyson Heydon AC QC.

(2) That so much of standing order 172 be suspended as would prevent the President transmitting the Address to His Excellency in writing only.