Malcolm Turnbull criticises Scott Morrison for ringing police over Angus Taylor investigation
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has explained a phone call he had with the Prime Minister in regards to Energy Minister Angus Taylor, insisting it was nothing untoward.
NSW
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NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has explained a phone call he had with the Prime Minister in regards to Energy Minister Angus Taylor, insisting it was nothing untoward.
Mr Fuller said the conversation was “extremely short” and he did not disclose any information that was not contained in an official media release.
“He didn’t ask for anything that was inappropriate and I’m comfortable with the discussion that we had over a few minutes,” he said.
Scott Morrison has been under fire from Labor since revealing yesterday he personally rang Mr Fuller to ask him about the Strike Force that NSW Police has established in investigate allegations Mr Taylor’s office forged documents to attack the City of Sydney Council for its travel spending.
“(In the phone call) the Prime Minister was trying to confirm or deny whether or not there was an investigation into one of his cabinet members,” he said.
“Now, from my perspective, I received a letter of complaint from the shadow Attorney General, potentially in relation to criminal activity, potentially in relation to Angus Taylor.”
“From my perspective, I thought given the position of the person making the report and the person who was involved in it, that it was appropriate that we look into the matter to see if there was any criminality.”
Mr Fuller said the falsification of documents is not regularly seen and specialist teams have been called in to assist the investigation.
“Look at this stage, the allegation itself is around a complex piece of criminal law,” he said.
“We (aren’t sure at) this stage even if we have reached the benchmark of it being a criminal matter. Now that needs to be the first port of call, whether (the allegation) is this a criminal matter.”
Mr Fuller downplayed the relationship between Mr Morrison and himself.
“I’ll tell you this, I had received three missed calls from a phone number that I don’t have in my my phone,” he said.
Yesterday, NSW Police confirmed they were in the “early stages” of investigating information into the reported creation of fraudulent documentation.
“Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad have launched Strike Force Garrad to investigate the matters and determine if any criminal offences have been committed,” the statement said.
“As investigations are ongoing, no further information is available.”
Mr Morrison has refused to stand down his Energy Minister while investigations take place.
Mr Morrison returned to the floor of the House after he was grilled about the matter during Question Time yesterday to confirm he had since spoken with NSW police to get an update on the case.
“I’ve since spoken with the NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller about the investigation and the nature and substance of their inquiries, which he advised me were based only on the allegations referred by the Shadow Attorney-General,” he said.
“Based on the information provided to me by the Commissioner, I consider there is no action required by me under clauses 7.1 and 7.2.
“The NSW Police should now be left to complete their inquiries which will be considered upon their completion.”
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull this morning criticised Mr Morrison for ringing the police commissioner directly over the investigation.
Mr Turnbull said it was important police investigations were seen to be free of political influence.
And while he said he had no doubt the call was “innocuous”, he added that “it would have been much better had it not been made”.
“It is a call that I would not have made,” Mr Turnbull told Sky News.
The matter was referred to NSW Police by Labor after it was revealed Mr Taylor’s office had referred to false figures regarding travel costs during a fiery correspondence by letter with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
Attorney-General spokesman Mark Dreyfus wrote to NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller in October seeking the formal investigation.
Mr Dreyfus cited three sections of the NSW Crimes Act, asking the police to consider whether the conduct committed an offence.
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After defending his use of an altered document to launch an attack on Ms Moore over her council’s spending, Mr Taylor conceded the $15.9 million bill he cited in a letter to her was wrong.
“What is clear now, is that the numbers in that document were not correct,” Mr Taylor said.
“I reject absolutely the suggestion that I, or any members of my staff, altered the document in question; however, I will be writing to the Lord Mayor to offer my apologies for not clarifying those numbers with the City of Sydney before writing to her.”
During Question Time earlier, Opposition leader Anthony Albanese asked Prime Minister Morrison if he would move to stand down Mr Taylor from the frontbench while the investigation took place.
Mr Morrison said investigations were a matter for “authorities in other places” and accused Labor of trying to “smear” government members.
“The matters that the Opposition Leader refers to have not been provided to me or been presented to me by the NSW Police. I have not been advised,” he said.
Mr Albanese continued his attack during Question Time, pointing to rules that would allow the Prime Minister to stand down a minister if they are subjected to any kind of official investigation.
“Now, this is a very recent matter, and I will be happy to take advice from the NSW Police in relation to any matters that they’re pursuing,” Mr Morrison said.
“I will be taking advice from the NSW Police on any matter that they are currently looking at, and I will form a view.”
Mr Taylor has confirmed he will “of course” co-operate with NSW police regarding the investigation but slammed any suggestion of deliberate wrongdoing.
“This is an outrageous accusations against me by the Labor Party,” he said.
“I reject absolutely the suggestion that I, or any members of my staff, altered the documents in question.
“I won’t be lectured to by the party of Aldi bags and wine boxes full of cash.
“I’m not going to be lectured to about integrity in the week that Labor is celebrating Eddie Obeid coming out on parole.”
Originally published as Malcolm Turnbull criticises Scott Morrison for ringing police over Angus Taylor investigation
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