ALP on attack as Scott Morrison backs Angus Taylor

Scott Morrison has tried to deflect pressure over the Taylor saga by accusing his opponents of playing political games.

Scott Morrison in question time on Thursday. Picture: AAP

Energy Minister Angus Taylor has not been contacted by NSW police as they investigate whether his ­office doctored a document he used to attack Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Two days after the strike force was launched, Mr Taylor attacked the “pathetic, outrageous” alle­gation referred to the police by Labor as Scott Morrison tried to deflect pressure over the allegations by accusing his opponents of playing political games. “The Leader of the Opposition ­(Anthony Albanese) has authorised political games in this place which has gagged a veteran of this country speaking about veteran suicide,” the Prime Minister said.

“The Leader of the Opposition should grow up from his political games and … focus on the real issues Australians wish to focus on.”

Mr Morrison tried to distract from the Taylor issue by pointing to Liberal MP and ex-serviceman Phillip Thompson, who had indicated he wanted to discuss suicide prevention while debating a government bill that extends a home insurance scheme to Australian Defence Force members.

Mr Thompson was cut off by Labor after he attacked the Queensland Palaszczuk government and rebutted comments made by opposition MP Shayne Neumann but managed to make his remarks about veteran suicide later in the debate.

Labor, which has questioned Mr Morrison’s judgment over the Taylor issue after he personally called NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller to find out about the investigation and made a blunder in parliament while defending his minister, also rejected Mr Taylor’s request for a pair in the final sitting week of the year.

Mr Taylor made the request for Wednesday and Thursday next week to attend an International Energy Agency meeting in Paris but Labor said it was inadvisable with an ongoing investigation.

“We don’t think it’s appropriate for someone to leave the country and parliament when there are lots of questions to answer,” party sources said. Labor offered to pair another minister but there had been no decision on Thursday night on whether Mr Taylor would still go.

If he did attend without a pair, the government would lose a vote in the House of Representatives. Mr Morrison commands 76 votes on the floor of the house, plus the Speaker, while Labor and the crossbench hold 74 votes.

Mr Albanese and opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler used every question in question time to target the Prime Minister and Mr Taylor, questioning Mr Morrison’s integrity and his accountability.

The Labor leader failed to get Mr Morrison to correct the record in person about wrongly attributing quotes to a Victorian detective instead of 2GB radio host Ben Fordham, as revealed by The ­Australian.

Mr Morrison referenced the quotes in parliament as he defended his decision to not stand down Mr Taylor, citing Julia Gillard’s decision to remain as the prime minister during a police investi­gation into an AWU slush fund scandal.

Mr Albanese said he had no reason to doubt the competence of the NSW Police Force conducting its ­investigation but the problem was the perception of political ­interference. “The Prime Minister’s intervention will have members of the public thinking, ‘Well, if one of my mates has a police ­inquiry, can I pick up the phone to the police commissioner and ask about that inquiry?’” he said.

The Taylor investigation is ­expected to wrap up next week.