Charge over royal commission lawyer attack

A man has been charged over a serious assault on a lawyer working for the trade union royal commission in Melbourne.

The 50-year-old woman was walking through a Fitzroy car park at 10pm (AEST) on Thursday when she was attacked by a man unknown to her.

"The Fitzroy woman sustained serious injuries and is currently being treated in hospital," a police spokeswoman said in a statement on Friday.

A 41-year-old man was interviewed by detectives on Friday and later charged with intent to cause serious injury.

The man has been remanded in custody and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday.

"The commission is deeply distressed by the attack on one of its staff members in Melbourne last night," the commission said in a statement.

"The commission is not aware at this stage that the attack is related to the commission's inquiry."

The royal commission has been holding hearings in Melbourne this week focusing on the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the Health Services Union (HSU).