Heydon attacks 'unacceptable': Law Council

The Law Council of Australia has leapt to the defence of royal commissioner Dyson Heydon, labelling media attacks against him as "unacceptable".

The ACTU is weighing up whether to seek to disqualify Mr Heydon over perceived bias following his acceptance of an invitation to speak at a Liberal Party function, from which he has subsequently withdrawn.

"The public attacks on the commissioner being played out through the media are unacceptable and damage the basis on which tribunals and courts operate," Law Council of Australia president Duncan McConnel said in a statement.

"The person who sits as a royal commissioner is entitled to the same respect, inside and outside of the inquiry, as a judge in a court."