Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has described the state's corruption watchdog inquiry into MP Angus Taylor as a factional attack rather than a genuine investigation into misconduct, according to a report by The Age.
Abbott said the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) probe was not based on evidence of corruption, and instead framed it as a politically motivated move tied to internal party factional rivalries. The Age reports that Taylor is now facing questions as part of the inquiry, though the specific allegations or scope of the investigation were not detailed in the available reporting.
The comments come as ICAC continues its examination of Taylor, a senior figure in the New South Wales Liberal Party. Abbott's intervention adds a public layer of political tension to the proceedings, with the former prime minister directly challenging the legitimacy of the watchdog's actions in this case. His remarks suggest a deepening split within conservative ranks over how to respond to the inquiry.
The Age's coverage highlights that Abbott's statement was unequivocal in rejecting any suggestion of wrongdoing by Taylor, instead pointing to internal party dynamics as the driving force behind the investigation. The exact nature of the questions Taylor faces, or the timeline for the inquiry's conclusion, remains unclear from the available information.
As ICAC's work continues, observers will be watching whether Abbott's public dismissal of the probe influences how other party figures respond, and whether Taylor's position is affected by the ongoing scrutiny.
