Key facts
- Angus Taylor has been named in an inquiry into alleged corruption within the NSW Liberal Party.
- Text messages presented to the inquiry suggest Taylor was asked for and potentially committed to donations for the Reformers group.
- Taylor has stated that no payment was made.
- Colleagues and political opponents have called for Taylor to provide more detailed explanations.
- The Reformers group aimed to take over the Liberal Party from within and targeted specific federal seats.
The ongoing inquiry into alleged corruption within the New South Wales Liberal Party, known as Operation Rosny, has cast a shadow over federal opposition figure Angus Taylor. While not directly accused of wrongdoing, text messages presented to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) suggest Taylor was approached for significant financial contributions to the Reformers, a hard-right faction aiming to control the party from within.
Evidence presented included a message from Dallas McInerney, then chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW and a known ally of Taylor, stating an intention to 'shake down Angus for 10k' during a breakfast meeting in March 2021. Later intercepted texts, according to another witness, claimed McInerney had secured a commitment from Taylor for a '$15k injection and a $3k monthly donation'.
Taylor has publicly stated that 'no payment was made' and has largely declined to comment further, citing that he is not a party to the proceedings. However, this response has not quelled anxiety among his colleagues, with several Liberals speaking anonymously and calling for a more comprehensive explanation. Treasurer Jim Chalmers echoed these sentiments, urging Taylor to 'front up and explain any involvement'.
Further questions emerged when a witness was asked if the alleged monthly payments were connected to similar amounts paid by Catholic Schools NSW to a lobbying firm linked to the Reformers. While there is no definitive evidence of Taylor donating, the text messages have raised concerns about his knowledge of and potential involvement with the Reformers' operations, including alleged branch-stacking efforts targeting specific federal seats held by Liberal MPs.
The inquiry's revelations have also angered Taylor's factional enemies within the Liberal Party, as the Reformers' recruitment drives aimed to unseat MPs like Sussan Ley and Melissa McIntosh. The ongoing investigation, with several weeks of hearings remaining, suggests Taylor may not emerge unscathed from the scrutiny.