Lawler given time to respond to report

The federal government has given Fair Work Commission vice-president Michael Lawler time to respond to an independent report on complaints about his conduct.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash says she received former Federal Court judge Peter Heerey's report on February 15 and has given Mr Lawler until March 4 to respond, in the interests of procedural fairness.

The government would respond after that date, Senator Cash told parliament on Thursday.