Dyson Heydon on panel that awarded PM Tony Abbott Rhodes Scholarship, documents show.

Extract from ABC News

By the National Reporting Team's Alison Branley and political reporter Eliza Borrello

Updated about 3 hours ago

Photo: Dyson Heydon (right) was on the panel that awarded Tony Abbott's Rhodes Scholarship in the 1980s. (Channel Seven, AAP: Renee Nowytarger)

Related Story: Heydon 'overlooked' connection between Liberal Party and speech

Related Story: Labor demands commissioner resign over Liberal links

Dyson Heydon was on the selection committee that awarded Prime Minister Tony Abbott his Rhodes Scholarship in the 1980s, documents have revealed.

The records seen by the ABC, kept by the New South Wales state archives, confirm Mr Abbott and Justice Heydon — the man his Government appointed to lead the Royal Commission into Trade Unions — first crossed paths at least three decades ago.
The prestigious scholarships allows an elite group of students to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
As well as Mr Abbott, Australia's Rhodes scholars include former prime minister Bob Hawke, former opposition leader Kim Beazley, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Justice Heydon.
Justice Heydon was awarded his Rhodes Scholarship in 1964.
The seven member selection committee that chooses the Rhodes scholar from each state, is made up of three existing Rhodes scholars.

Stand-off could define election

Labor and the Government are locked in an arm wrestle over Dyson Heydon and the union royal commission that will define their election strategies, writes Paula Matthewson.

Justice Heydon was one of the Rhodes scholars from New South Wales that awarded Mr Abbott his scholarship in the 1980s.
When asked at a media conference Monday morning to confirm whether Justice Heydon was on the selection panel for his scholarship, Mr Abbott said: "It's a long time ago and the idea that I gather is being peddled, that somehow he and I cooked up a conspiracy 34 years ago against the Labor Party, is absurd."
After being pressed again to clarify whether Justice Heydon was on the panel, Mr Abbott said: "I just can't recall, I'm sorry".
When asked the same question, the trade union royal commission's media team issued a statement saying: "No comment".

 

Infographic: A document shows Dyson Heydon's position on the Rhodes Scholarship selection committee in 1980. (ABC News)

Infographic: A document shows Tony Abbott and four other applicants for the 1981 Rhodes scholarship. (ABC News)