Gillard's ex-boyfriend to front inquiry

Former prime minister Julia Gillard's ex-boyfriend and controversial former union official Bruce Wilson will front a royal commission into trade union corruption on Thursday.

Mr Wilson allegedly handed Ms Gillard a large amount of cash several times to pay for renovations on her Melbourne home, the commission has heard.

Ms Gillard then allegedly paid for her renovations with a cheque.

Mr Wilson will on Thursday be asked about those claims when he appears before the royal commission hearing in Sydney.

The commission is examining allegations that members of the AWU West Australian branch established a secret "slush fund" in the early 1990s and used some of the cash to help officials win elections.

It's alleged thousands of dollars from the Workplace Reform Association fund, which was legally established by the former prime minister when she was working as a lawyer, was used to pay for renovations at Ms Gillard's Melbourne home in 1994.

She has denied the allegations.