In an open letter to Attorney-General Christian Porter, more than 500 women working in the law from across Australia have sought changes to the way judges are disciplined and appointed.
The culture of the legal profession has been built by men for men over centuries. It continues to rely heavily on personal networks that reinforce the status quo.
An investigation commissioned by the High Court has found former judge Dyson Heydon sexually harassed six young female associates who worked for him when he was on the court.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Attorney-General George Brandis announce the findings of the trade union royal commission in December 2015.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Unions may well feel justifiably aggrieved by the findings – and impact – of the trade union royal commission, but there are nonetheless lessons to be learnt from them.
Informed critique of the courts and their work is essential to the proper functioning of a democracy.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
A “judicial activist”, it seems, decides cases in favour of a preferred (non-“mainstream”) litigant or interest, to reach a result that is inconsistent with a conservative worldview.
The return of the ABCC legislation might be a double dissolution trigger.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Dyson Heydon’s recommendations for union reform represent a steamroller approach to industrial democracy.
Labor says it will move a motion in the Senate this week for a message to be sent to the Governor-General, requesting he dismiss Dyson Heydon as royal commissioner.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Given the Governor-General usually acts on the advice of the government and its ministers, an address from the Senate on Dyson Heydon is unlikely to have any effect.
Trade union royal commissioner Dyson Heydon refused to find that he was affected by apprehended bias.
AAP/Joel Carrett
There are inherent shortcomings in a procedure that asks judges to make objective and rational assessments about how their own conduct, relationships or interests might appear to others
Applications from trade unions failed to convince Dyson Heydon to disqualify himself as royal commissioner.
AAP/Joel Carrett
Dyson Heydon didn’t accept that merely agreeing to give the Sir Garfield Barwick lecture could create an appearance of bias. Judges and royal commissioners are allowed to have political views, he said.
Commissioner Dyson Heydon during a hearing of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption in August.
AAP Image/Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption
There’s an ad on TV that starts: “If you were me, what would you do next?” If I were Tony Abbott, I’d scheme to get a new treasurer without the existing one blowing me up.
The application for royal commissioner Dyson Heydon to quit follows his acceptance of a invitation to deliver the Garfield Barwick address.
Joel Carrett/AAP