Barristers and solicitors are raking in about $25 million of taxpayer cash for their work on the commission – and that doesn't include their expenses. Illustration: Matt Golding It's well known that counsel assisting Jeremy Stoljar​, who came under fire from Labor figures this week for his tough grilling of Mr Shorten, is getting paid $3.3 million for his efforts. But he's not the only barrister taking home a big pay packet. An analysis of government contracts published on the AusTender website shows at least four other Sydney-based silks have been contracted.

Michael Elliott is getting $1.3 million, Richard Scruby​ $960,000, Sarah McNaughton $866,000 and Fiona Roughley​ $831,000. But the biggest winner is possibly law firm Minter Ellison, Attorney-General George Brandis' former employer. The firm was originally awarded a $2 million contract but that figure quickly grew to about $8 million. It has now ballooned to $17 million. Senator Brandis has previously said he had no influence on the decision to award the contract to Minter. He says it was the choice of the former head of his department, Roger Wilkins.

The decision came after a "limited tender procurement" and after the firm was judged suitable by Commissioner Dyson Heydon, a former High Court justice, and Mr Stoljar. The royal commission began in March 2014 and is expected to conclude in December this year. All told it is expected to cost taxpayers $60 million to $80 million. Mr Shorten spent the better part of two days on the witness stand last week. He was battered by revelations he failed to disclose a $40,000 donation used to pay his 2007 election campaign manager. A number of prominent commentators have subsequently called for his resignation. But his leadership position is protected by ALP rules introduced by Kevin Rudd in 2013 that require 60 per cent of the caucus to sign a petition calling for a spill of his position.

Labor senator Deb O'Neill​ on Saturday said there was absolutely no case for Mr Shorten to resign. She is among those who have dismissed the inquiry as a politically motivated witch-hunt but the government says it is shining a light into the dark corners of the union movement.