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@lurker172602 wrote:
I imagine that Dyson Heydon is probably a very nice man and I sure he's an excellent judge/adjudicator.
However, given the guaranteed politisation this RC was always going to attract, from either side, he had to be seen to be squeaker than squeaky clean. I think the RC is now critically tainted.
And, his defence has also opened a whole new acceptable response for anyone who doesn't want to answer questions. "I wasn't aware". That's dangerous territory

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I agree with you in that the Royal Commission has now been drawn into conflict through the accusations of the ALP.

However, Justice Heydon has had plenty of time to make his considerations to stand down or forge ahead, so he must have prepared himself  with plenty of  material to be able to defend himself well for the onslaught from the ALP. He must know they're not going to rest in their efforts to close the commission down. They have too much to lose to let it go ahead.

As to "I wasn't aware". It was actually when he became aware of the possible conflict of interest his attendance at the event could be seen as that he cancelled.

"I wasn't aware" was Mr Shorten's favourite response when he was in the stand, I believe.