Request for Morrison phone call documents declined

THE Federal Government has claimed “public interest immunity” in refusing to release further details of a phone call between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller.

The Senate asked for documents relating to the call, in which Mr Morrison sought basic details of a police investigation into cabinet minister Angus Taylor, setting a deadline of noon yesterday.

A NSW police strike force is investigating allegations Mr Taylor used a forged document to launch an attack on Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Mr Taylor has yet to be interviewed by detectives. Government Senate leader Mathias Cormann said Mr Morrison and Mr Fuller had made public statements about the call.

“Plainly, any documents of the kinds requested, if they existed, would not be able to be produced, as they would properly be the subject of public interest immunity,” he wrote. “That immunity would arise because the matter concerns police inquiries by state authorities.”

Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong accused the Government of lacking transparency after refusing to release a transcript of the call.

“This is a scandal that is engulfing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction but it goes right to the heart of the Morrison Government,” she told parliament.

“When the Prime Minister talks about quiet Australians, he really wants everyone to shut up and listen to him.”