Labor moves Senate motion to remove Heydon

Labor has pressed ahead with its bid to have the Senate call on the governor-general to remove unions royal commissioner Dyson Heydon.

"Put very simply, it is untenable for a royal commissioner who is conducting a politically charged inquiry to be politically compromised," Senate opposition leader Penny Wong told parliament on Tuesday.

The motion was lost on a tied vote, with Labor winning backing from the Greens and independent senators Glenn Lazarus and Jacqui Lambie.

Attorney-General George Brandis accused Labor of an "utterly contemptible" attack on a "very illustrious" Australian and said the motion would have had no legal effect.