Angus Taylor staffer Josh Manuatu will be at the helm when the Canberra Liberals attempt to win government from the two-decade-old Labor ACT government, it has been confirmed.
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An email sent by Canberra Liberals president John Cziesla on Wednesday night said Mr Manuatu - who has been implicated in the Angus Taylor-Clover Moore stoush - had been appointed as territory director. He will replace Kay Gilchrist, who has been in the role for the past two years.
"As territory director, Josh will take on both the roles of administrative director and 2020 campaign director," Mr Cziesla wrote.
Mr Cziesla said Mr Manuatu came "highly recommended by a number of senior federal parliamentarians after having worked as a political staffer for more than a decade".
"Josh is a highly experienced campaigner, having worked in a number of roles in campaigns around Australia and overseas. His long connection to the ACT division having served in several elected roles also means he can hit the ground running," Mr Cziesla said.
Mr Taylor was forced to apologise unreservedly last year to Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore after he used inaccurate travel figures to accuse Sydney Council of virtue signalling on climate change.
The Australian newspaper last year suggested Mr Manuatu may have been responsible for obtaining the false figures. The matter is now being investigated by the Australian Federal Police.
The Energy Minister's office confirmed Mr Manuatu was still working for Mr Taylor when contacted earlier this week.
Mr Manuatu is also about to be given life membership by the ACT Young Liberals, according to an agenda for a special general meeting seen by The Canberra Times.
Sitting ACT Liberal MLA Candice Burch will also be given life membership at the same meeting.
Mr Manuatu did not respond to a request for comment on the award.
Canberra Liberals president John Cziesla also failed to respond.
NSW Police had been looking into allegations someone doctored the City of Sydney annual report to inflate the travel figures, after a referral from Labor.
Mr Taylor had drawn on a figure of $15 million in a letter to Cr Moore in September, when urging the council to cut down on its air travel if it was serious about reducing emissions.
The true figures though were more like $6000.
Mr Taylor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing over the allegations.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison resisted calls to stand Mr Taylor down, and became embroiled in an ancillary scandal, after he called his former neighbour NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller directly about the investigation.
NSW Police handed the case over to the Australian Federal Police on December 20. It is not clear why.
An AFP spokeswoman said, "While this matter is being evaluated, it would be inappropriate to comment any further."
