Emails reveal NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet had plans to meet with ‘preferred candidate’ for UK trade job

NSW Premier Dom Perrottet has been accused of misleading the public over claims he had no involvement in a trade job appointment.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has been accused of “misleading the public” about his involvement in the selection of the UK Agent-General after emails suggested he had plans to meet with a “preferred candidate” who eventually missed out on the role.

A parliamentary inquiry first initiated to investigate the appointment of former deputy premier John Barilaro as a senior trade and investment commissioner to the Americas resumed on Monday.

Now, the attention has turned to other trade commissioner postings – particularly the UK Agent-General role held by Stephen Cartwright.

Premier Dominic Perrottet’s involvement in appointing a trade commissioner is in question. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Emails tendered to the inquiry reveal Mr Perrottet – who was the treasurer at the time – requested a “shortlist” of candidates and for a meeting to be scheduled with “preferred candidate” Paul Webster.

“The Treasurer has requested a ‘short list’ of the other candidates that were interviewed, together with a copy of their resume,” the email dated January 25, 2021 reads.

The Premier has said during a press conference in August that he didn’t recall being informed of a “preferred candidate” for the UK Agent-General, but that he was kept updated in relation to the process.

He said at the time that the decision was ultimately made by the Cabinet.

Shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the Premier was “caught misleading the public”.

“He wasn’t at arm’s length from the process of choosing the UK-Agent General,” he said.

“These emails show he involved himself directly.”

Paul Webster said he wasn’t ‘shocked’ to find out he missed out on the role. Picture: NSW parliament

Mr Mookhey said it was a case of “history repeating itself”, referring to the appointment of Mr Barilaro to the New York trade commissioner role.

“An independent process selects a highly qualified candidate like Mr Webster, he is then pushed aside,” he said.

A panel led by Treasury secretary Michael Pratt identified Mr Webster as the preferred candidate for the role in an email sent on December 21, 2020.

NSW shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the emails showed the Premier was involved directly in the process. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Mr Webster told the inquiry on Monday that he was “not shocked” to discover that he had missed out on the coveted UK Agent-General role.

“It was a competitive process, but it was far from a complete process in my eyes,” he said.

He said NGS Global managing partner Marianne Broadbent informed him that another candidate had been selected for the role of Agent-General to the UK but couldn’t pinpoint the exact time of the conversation.

Mr Mookhey probed as to whether Mr Webster had begun salary negotiations for the role before finding out he was not successful.

UK-Agent General Stephen Cartwright (left) will give evidence on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

Mr Webster said the conversations were of a “high level” and more a confirmation of information rather than a “negotiation”.

“It was a very high-level conversation, there was no granularity in it,” he said.

Upon finding out that he was not successful in being selected for the role, Mr Webster was told there may be “other opportunities” down the line.

In the months that followed, he was offered his current role as NSW trade and investment commissioner to UK and Europe in March 2022.

The inquiry will hear from Mr Cartwright on Wednesday.

Leaked messages reveal he complained that his $600,000 a year salary wasn’t enough to live on in London.

Originally published as Emails reveal NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet had plans to meet with ‘preferred candidate’ for UK trade job