John Barilaro has insisted he applied for a lucrative US trade post as a private citizen and denied creating the role for himself as he appeared before an inquiry into the appointment, which heard that a candidate for a similar UK post initially demanded a salary of $800,000.

The former deputy premier’s personal life and relationship with his senior media adviser, Jennifer Lugsdin, was brought up during his first appearance before the inquiry, following revelations Ms Lugsdin worked for a short period at the government agency that handed him the job.