Taylor later served as Administrator of Christmas Island (an Australian external territory) from 1986 to 1990.
[3] After the election, Taylor was replaced as Labor's deputy leader by Colin Jamieson.
He remained in the shadow ministry until 1980, serving under three leaders of the opposition (John Tonkin, Colin Jamieson, and Ron Davies).
He served on the Judiciary and Parliamentary Salaries Tribunal from 1984 to 1986, and then was briefly chairman of the Authority for the Intellectually Handicapped.
From 1986 to 1990, Taylor served as Administrator of Christmas Island, an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean.