NSW Liberal party expels state MP Taylor Martin over ‘undignified’ breakup texts

The New South Wales Liberal party has expelled state MP Taylor Martin as a result of an investigation into text messages he sent to a woman with whom he was in a relationship.

Martin, who has been a member of the NSW upper house since 2017, has sat outside of the Liberal party room since July last year after the party launched the investigation.

At the time, Martin unreservedly apologised for what he called “heated words” during an “undignified breakup”. The text messages were allegedly sent by Martin to a woman he was in a relationship with, who wishes to remain anonymous.

In a statement on Friday, the NSW Liberal party state director, Richard Shields, said a report on the investigation had been received and Martin would be expelled as a result.

“On the basis of the report’s findings the NSW Liberal party state director has acted quickly and decisively, ratified by the state executive, to expel Mr Martin as a member of the NSW division,” Shields said.

“The NSW Liberal party expects the highest standards of behaviour of its members and elected representatives and will continue to strive to ensure those standards are consistently upheld.”

NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman said on Friday night that he supported the party’s decision to expel Martin and that the public was “entitled to expect, the highest standards of behaviour by MPs”.

The report has not been released, and the party said it remains confidential.

Martin said he was shocked and disappointed with the finding. In July he had said he was “young and inexperienced” in a situation that was “way beyond me”.

“There were heated words during my attempts to go separate ways that I sincerely regret. It was an ugly and undignified parting of ways.”

In 2022, a report uncovered systemic bullying, five alleged sexual assaults and widespread harassment within the state’s parliament.

The review, conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, uncovered “systemic and multi-directional bullying, with more than a third of respondents saying they had been bullied or sexually harassed over the past five years.