The opposition leader is not a specific target of Operation Rosny, which is investigating allegations of corruption against people associated with the NSW branch. He is not accused of wrongdoing. But Taylor is the highest-profile person mentioned so far – and the political figure with the most to lose.
Allegations of Donations
Taylor was on Tuesday named as a potential donor to the Reformers, a group of hard-right Liberal operatives plotting to take over the party from the inside. The inquiry heard that a screenshot of a message from Dallas McInerney, then the chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, was sent to Reformers members in which McInerney said he planned to “shake down Angus for 10k” during a breakfast meeting in Canberra. The message was allegedly sent in March 2021 when Taylor was energy minister in the Morrison government.
Dylan Whitelaw, another Reformers associate who gave evidence, was read a later intercepted text message in which he claimed McInerney had told him he had secured a commitment from Taylor for a “15k injection and a 3k monthly donation!” Whitelaw couldn’t recall sending the message and told the inquiry he would be “very surprised” if Taylor made any contribution.
Taylor's Response
After initially declining to refute the allegations, Taylor told a press conference that “no payment was made”. “I’m not going to give a running commentary on all of this. I’m not a party to the proceedings, but no payment was made,” Taylor said. On Thursday, when asked again, Taylor said: “I’ve answered these questions yesterday. I’m not going to give a running commentary on it.” “You can ask the question 100 times,” he repeated. “I’ll give you the same answer.”
Several Liberals who spoke on condition of anonymity believed Taylor must provide a more comprehensive answer if he had no role in bankrolling Reformers’ operations. Labor treasurer Jim Chalmers said: “You know, I don’t want to interfere with the Icac process that his political allies are involved in at the moment … but there are a number of questions to be answered here, and he should front up and explain any involvement he’s had in this.”
Further Questions
Whitelaw was asked if the $3,000 monthly payments Taylor allegedly agreed to were connected to a similar amount Catholic Schools NSW was paying to the Reformers-linked lobbying firm Beckington. There is no evidence that Taylor donated to the Reformers – only text messages suggesting payments would be sought or had been received. At Thursday’s hearing, Reformers witness Robert Assaf wasn’t sure what Taylor knew of their work but said he “definitely wasn’t opposed”.
Among text messages released by Icac is one from Whitelaw telling Reformers that “Angus Taylor is locked-in” for an event in Goulburn in September 2020. An “Angus” is mentioned in several other text messages although the context is unclear. The evidence so far has been enough to cause anxiety among his colleagues because of Taylor’s close ties to McInerney. The pair are friends and factional allies. McInerney has helped Taylor with campaigns and was influential in his overthrowing of Sussan Ley.
Factional Fallout
Liberals are surprised Taylor has not been quicker to distance himself from McInerney, who stepped down from Catholic Schools NSW after the inquiry was announced. The opening days of evidence have elicited anger among Taylor’s factional enemies in NSW. The Reformers’ recruitment drives targeted branches in the federal seats of Berowra, Lindsay and Farrer, with the aim of dislodging Julian Leeser, Melissa McIntosh and Sussan Ley respectively. The notion that Taylor might have been supporting the plotters would amount to treason beyond what’s tolerated in factional politics. The inquiry has more than seven weeks of hearings to go. Taylor might not be a target of Icac but he’s unlikely to emerge completely unscathed.
