Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has questioned Scott Morrison's handling of the controversy surrounding his energy minister, saying he would not have phoned the NSW police chief to discuss the fraud investigation.
The prime minister revealed on Tuesday he had called the NSW police commissioner to confirm reports that they had begun an investigation into an allegedly doctored document used by Mr Taylor to attack Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
Mr Turnbull told Sky News that he had no doubt the conversation about the investigation would have been "innocuous" but it was vital the investigation was seen to be conducted "free of political influence."
"It would have been better if it had not been made," Mr Turnbull told Sky News.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says he would not have called the NSW police commissioner. Source: AAP
"Being blunt about it, it is a call I would not have made."
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese also questioned Scott Morrison's judgment and demanded more details about the telephone call.
"His job is to act in the national interest, not his personal interest," Mr Albanese told reporters on Wednesday.
Labor grilled the prime minister about the phone call in Question Time on Wednesday.
Mr Morrison told Parliament he did nothing wrong by checking on the status of the investigation with Commissioner Fuller.
"I informed myself of those matters, as I told this House I would, as I then went and did, and then reported back to this House as I should have."
Labor is calling for the transcript of the call to be released.
'Extremely short' conversation
NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller said there's nothing untoward about Mr Morrison calling him to discuss the fraud investigation involving Mr Taylor.
Mick Fuller said he did not have a personal relationship with the prime minister.
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.
Police are investigating how Mr Taylor's office came to provide a journalist with fake documents purporting to show Sydney City Council travel expenses.
An allegedly doctored document used by Australian Energy Minister Angus Taylor is now the subject of a NSW police investigation. Source: AAP
Mr Morrison stood by his minister after speaking to the commissioner on Tuesday.
"I take matters of ministerial standards very seriously," the prime minister said.
"Based on the information provided to me by the commissioner, I consider there is no action required by me."
Labor referred the minister's office to police over a doctored document Mr Taylor used to attack Sydney mayor Clover Moore.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Source: AAP
Mr Taylor claimed the fudged figures were drawn from the council's annual report.
The minister later admitted the travel figures he cited were wrong but claimed the council had different versions of its annual report online.
Mr Albanese has called for the minister to be stood aside while police investigate.
"We don't know where (the document) came from but we know that it was given to The Daily Telegraph by the minister's office," he said.
"Maybe it was the fairies in the garden or the goldfish in the ponds here or maybe it was just conjured up somewhere."
