NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has said that while he will not intervene in stopping the former deputy premier John Barilaro from becoming the NSW US trade commissioner in New York City, an independent inquiry into the appointment was appropriate.
The former deputy premier’s controversial appointment to the $500,000 a year role as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner has become a thorn in the side of the NSW Government as questions are asked if due process was followed.
The NSW Premier was asked if the state’s former deputy premier was going to “walk away” from the job.
“That’s not my understanding,” he said, rejecting the suggestion that he intervened to stop Mr Barilaro from taking the prestigious position.
“It would be inappropriate for me to do that. My job is always to follow the proper process. My job is to make sure that the right thing is done … regardless of whether or not that provides a political challenge to me or otherwise.”
The NSW Premier has asked for an independent report on the issue and plans to make it public and act upon it if he has to.
An NSW parliamentary inquiry into the matter will be underway with Chief Executive of Investment NSW Amy Brown as the only witness. An internal inquiry into the appointment has also been pushed for by the NSW Premier, which is to be headed up by Department of Premier and Cabinet Michael Coutts-Trotter.
The DPC has since announced management consultant and former public service commissioner Graeme Head will take over the inquiry.
The US role was created by Mr Barilaro when he was trade minister.
Earlier this month the government announced Mr Barilaro had been appointed after a global talent search by a recruitment firm but since then, it has been reported that leaked emails revealed senior Investment NSW bureaucrat Jenny West was about to be named as the successful candidate last year.
Mr Barilaro resigned from his position as NSW Deputy Premier on 4 October 2021.
With AAP