The Australian Capital Territory’s director of public prosecutions has asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate former High Court justice Dyson Heydon after allegations of sexual harassment emerged earlier this week.
Shane Drumgold wrote to the AFP's ACT local policing branch recommending an investigation into complaints of sexual harassment against Mr Heydon.
“I have forwarded correspondence to the Australian Federal Police alerting them to the existence of the report and other associated complaints, with the recommendation that they investigate those things,” Mr Drumgold told The Guardian.
“I did that immediately upon becoming aware of both of those matters.”
High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said in a statement on Monday the court was "ashamed that this could have happened at the High Court of Australia".
An investigation report by former inspector-general of intelligence and security Dr Vivienne Thom has been provided to the six complainants and Mr Heydon.
The court was advised in 2019 of allegations of sexual harassment against the former judge.
"The investigation found that six former court staff members who were judges' associates were harassed by the former justice," Justice Kiefel said.
"The findings are of extreme concern to me, my fellow justices, our chief executive and the staff of the court."
She said a sincere apology had been given to the six women, who had made difficult decisions to come forward with their complaints.
Mr Heydon has disputed the findings via his lawyers Speed and Stracey.
"In respect of the confidential inquiry and its subsequent confidential report, any allegation of predatory behaviour or breaches of the law is categorically denied by our client," read a statement issued on his behalf.
"Our client says that if any conduct of his has caused offence, that result was inadvertent and unintended, and he apologises for any offence caused."
Three women are seeking compensation from Mr Heydon for sexual harassment.
Maurice Blackburn lawyer Josh Bornstein, who is representing three of the six women who have made sexual harassment complaints against Mr Heydon, said his clients would be seeking compensation from both the Commonwealth and the former judge.
He said the federal government has already indicated it is willing to commence the process of negotiating a resolution of claims of compensation.
In a statement to SBS News ACT policing said they didn't comment on whether or not an individual was under investigation due to privacy reasons.
