‘Absolute disaster’: Liberals fear the return of Barilaro job saga ahead of 2023 election

Stuart Ayres’s future hangs in the balance as senior Liberals await the release of a second review into the appointment of John Barilaro as trade commissioner.

Senior Liberals are urging Dominic Perrottet not to bring Stuart Ayres back to the frontbench if he’s cleared in a second review into the controversial appointment of John Barilaro as trade commissioner.

The review, led by high-profile lawyer Bruce McClintock, is expected to be released to the public as early as Monday.

Liberals said if the Premier brought back Stuart Ayres to the frontbench it could reignite uproar just weeks after the scandal finally appeared to have cooled.

One source said it would be an “absolute disaster” if Mr Ayres was reinstated as a cabinet minister even if the review cleared him of interfering in the recruitment process for the $500,000 a year role.

“It’ll be an absolute disaster. It’ll start the war again … It’ll be crazy for Dom,” the source said.

Former Trade Minister Stuart Ayres’ future hangs in the balance as MPs wait for the review’s findings. Picture: John Feder

“If the review finds no evidence against him, he’ll be straight back into cabinet. That’s another week of bad publicity we will get.”

Last week Mr Perrottet said he would not rule out Mr Ayres returning to cabinet once he read the review’s findings.

“There are always opportunities to come back and serve in the NSW government in different ways,” he said.

A second Liberal source said although bringing Mr Ayres back if there had been no wrongdoing would be right, it could be risky with an election looming.

“A lot of it will come down to the substance of the recommendations and that will really determine the appropriate next steps. He (Perrottet) said the door was left open, and rightly so,” they said.

“But you’d have to also wonder what’s the point of it, given this could become an issue so close (to the election) … Maybe it’s worth forging ahead given the election.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet did not rule out Mr Ayres returning to cabinet. Picture: David Swift

But a third Liberal said there was already “precedent” that would require Mr Ayres be brought back to cabinet if he is cleared.

The source referenced former Arts Minister Don Harwin winning back his job after he was cleared of breaching Covid-19 restrictions.

“If he’s cleared, he’s got to come back. The Don Harwin precedent was set. We have to be fair,” he said.

Mr Ayres was contacted for a comment.