Is NSW Police calling Angus Taylor a ‘dumb motherfucker’?

NSW Police have launched an investigation into Energy Minister Angus Taylor over the origins of potentially doctored documents he used to attack Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

But comments from deputy Labor leader Richard Marles have left many wondering whether there is more to the name chosen for the operation, Strike Force Garrad.

Marles told Parliament yesterday that “the Urban Dictionary has a very interesting definition of ‘Garrad’. You ought to go and have a look at it”.

So we did:

NSW Police told Crikey that no offence was meant by the name.

“The names for an investigation (or strike force) are computer-generated using a large database, which are commonly names, places, or related events in history. Officers are urged to review the generated word and ensure it will not cause offence,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

“In this case, we don’t believe 20 likes on Urban Dictionary is considered a commonly known definition of a word.”

“The most common use is as a name — both first and surname.”

Names of previous NSW Police operations have, indeed, appeared random.

Examples include Strike Force Emblems, which responded to accusations of improperly obtained warrants; Strike Force Raptor, which targeted motorcycle gang activity; and Strike Force Parrabell, which investigated deaths that were either suspected or confirmed to involve gay-hate crimes.