The Australian Federal Police has announced it will cease the investigation into Energy Minister Angus Taylor and his office.
The investigation began when the Minister used an allegedly forged document to criticise Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and her council of overspending on international travel, stating a figure which was later revealed to be significantly inflated.
Labor initially brought the incident to New South Wales police, who then passed the case on to the Australian Federal Police for investigation.
Though the figures Mr Taylor quoted were incorrect, his office maintained they had been sourced from the council’s annual report on their website.
The AFP said there was no evidence of Mr Taylor’s involvement in falsifying information, and that further investigation was unlikely to uncover any incriminating evidence.
“Following inquiries undertaken and information provided by NSW Police, the AFP has determined it is unlikely further investigation will result in obtaining sufficient evidence to substantiate a Commonwealth offence,” an AFP spokesperson said in a statement.
“The AFP assessment of this matter identified there is no evidence to indicate the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction was involved in falsifying information.
“The low level of harm and the apology made by the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction to the Lord Mayor of Sydney, along with the significant level of resources required to investigate were also factored into the decision not to pursue this matter.”
Mr Taylor said he was pleased with the finding.
“The Labor Party has a track record of using police referrals as a political tool,” Mr Taylor said.
“The Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Attorney-General’s pursuit of this matter is a shameful abuse of their office and a waste of our policing agencies’ time.”
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said that the Prime Minister should intervene on the matter, in order to get answers from his minister.
“This document didn’t come from the fairies,” Mr Albanese said.
“Someone wrote it, Angus Taylor’s office know who wrote it, who gave it to them, what the circumstances are.
“It’s not unreasonable that any government which had any integrity whatsoever would ask Angus Taylor’s office — it didn’t need police inquiries, frankly — where did you get the document from?”
