Prime Minister Scott Morrison has conceded a misstep in Parliament during his defence of Energy Minister Angus Taylor - and a personal call he made to the New South Wales police commissioner.
Mr Morrison used Question Time to defend his decision to not stand down Mr Taylor, amid a NSW police investigation into a forged document which the minister's used in a political attack.
The Prime Minister cited previous cases where politicians had kept their jobs while under investigation in his defence of the Energy Minister.
However, Mr Morrison corrected the record on Wednesday evening over a mistake relating to a quote used about Julia Gillard and a police investigation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended his phone call to NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller. Source: AAP
“The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, is under investigation by police,” the quote said.
But he had incorrectly attributed this statement about Ms Gillard’s conduct as a lawyer for the Australian Workers’ Union to the detective - when it had instead come from radio host Ben Fordham.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese demanded Mr Morrison own up to the error, with the Prime Minister's concession eventuating later through a letter tabled to Parliament by Attorney-General Christian Porter.
Minister for Energy Angus Taylor during Question Time at Parliament House. Source: AAP
Scott Morrison defends phone call
The stumble followed criticism over a call Mr Morrison made to NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller in relation to an investigation involving Mr Taylor. It was a decision which drew criticism from the opposition and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Police have launched Strike Force Garrad over allegations around a forged document, which earlier this year the Energy Minister’s office used to attack the Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore over travel expenses.
Mr Taylor claimed the cost of interstate and overseas travel for councillors amounted to $15.9 million dollars when the actual cost was just under $6,000.
The Minister has claimed the altered figures were drawn from the council's annual report - but later admitted they were wrong.
He maintains the council had different versions of its annual report online, despite the City of Sydney rejecting this claim, citing metadata from its website.
Prime Minister Morrison said he called the NSW police commissioner because he “needed to know” if this matter would undermine Ministerial Standards.
“I made it very clear I was speaking to the police about these matters," he said during Question Time.
"I said I would. No objection was made by those opposite. On the next day, they have sought to trump up something else.”
But Mr Albanese accused him interfering in the police investigation amid a political storm over his judgement in telephoning the NSW police commissioner about the matter.
Minister for Energy Angus Taylor and Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time. Source: AAP
“His job is to act in the national interest, not in his personal interest,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s decision also drew criticism from his predecessor.
"It would have been better if it had not been made," Mr Turnbull told Sky News.
"Being blunt about it, it is a call I would not have made."
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 told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
He denied having a personal relationship with the prime minister, although the pair have a past as Treasurer Mr Morrison was Mr Fuller's neighbour.
Police hope to have the investigation completed by next week.
With additional reporting from AAP
