05:33

The Australian has just named one of Angus Taylor’s staff, Josh Manuatu, as the person who obtained false travel figures about Clover Moore and sent them to the Daily Telegraph.

I have no evidence that Manuatu was involved in this at all, but there has been talk around the government that he might have been the staffer who handled the material.

But even if he did (and I said I don’t know if he did or not), the letter did go out under the signature of the minister. Old fashioned to reference the concept of ministerial responsibility I know.

Taylor’s office has told my colleague Anne Davies when she made inquiries about this yesterday: “I reject absolutely the suggestion that I, or any members of my staff, altered the document in question.”

