Paul Toole backs NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro after driving offences
Acting Deputy Premier Paul Toole and MP Bronnie Taylor have spoken out in support of Nationals leader John Barilaro, who is facing the loss of his licence after receiving driving fines.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- ‘Struggling since dad died’: Barilaro takes mental health leave
- John Barilaro on C-bombs and seeing a psychiatrist
Acting Deputy Premier Paul Toole has spoken out in support of Nationals leader John Barilaro, who is facing the loss of his licence after receiving several fines for driving offences.
Mr Toole, who has been in contact with Mr Barilaro since the Monaro MP went on leave for mental health reasons, said while no-one was above the law and everyone made mistakes.
“We are all human and we all make mistakes,” Mr Toole said. “But no-one is above the law.”
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor, who has also been in regular contact with Mr Barilaro, said she was disappointed that her boss was yet again under attack when he had made clear he was battling with his mental health.
“I don’t condone speeding, or talking on your phone while driving, but no-one is 100 percent perfect,” she said.
Daily Telegraph gives you a chance to have a say on life in NSW
“He said he needed a mental health break and has sought help which is very brave. I don’t know anyone in my life that could possibly have put up with the pressure that he was under the weeks before he went on leave.
“It’s disappointing that more time is spent trying to push someone over the ledge than doing the job we were elected to do.”
The comments come as senior Nationals examine whether to refer what they believe had been a potential data breach “from a government agency or ministry” to police for investigation.
The Coalition has been at war since Mr Barilaro threatened to blow up the government over a koala planning policy — a planning instrument that has since been watered down.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance, who reportedly called on those suggesting there had been a data breach to “put up or shut up”, has not held back in his criticism of Mr Barilaro, recently questioning Mr Barilaro’s leadership of the party.
Download our app and stay up to date anywhere, anytime
Ms Taylor said she hoped Mr Constance kept in mind the assistance Mr Barilaro had given him during the bushfires when the Bega MP had been “struggling”.
“They were sitting at my dining table with my husband and daughter,” she said.
“It was John Barilaro who went with him to his house to collect things. It was John Barilaro who said we needed a minister for bushfire recovery.
“It would serve everyone well to remember the people who stood by them at their lowest point and to reciprocate — that would be the most honourable thing to do.”
Oct 8: Barilaro to lose licence after speeding, mobile phone fines
It was revealed on Thursday that Deputy Premier John Barilaro was about to lose his driver’s licence after being caught speeding behind the wheel of a ministerial car days before he went on mental health leave.
Mr Barilaro has yet to pay the fine, which has been sent to the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and so his licence is not yet suspended.
The Daily Telegraph revealed Mr Barilaro will lose his licence after he clocked up points for speeding and using his mobile phone behind the wheel.
A spokeswoman for Mr Barilaro on Thursday said: “As is absolutely appropriate, the Deputy Premier will pay any fines and cop all penalties associated with the driving infringements.”
MORE NEWS
Buddy and Jesinta expecting second bub
Underworld figure Sam Ibrahim kept in prison for his own safety
Mental health bail bid in millionaire Joe Elias kidnap attempt case
Two of the offences occurred in the week before Mr Barilaro went on stress leave for a month, citing mental health issues.
But the spokeswoman said: “The driving offences in question did not contribute to his decision to take leave.”
It is understood he was caught on camera speeding through the Harbour Tunnel on his way to North Sydney to collect food.
He was also caught using his mobile phone behind the wheel.
An earlier fine for speeding was recorded when he was driving his daughter to university.
The offences came at the end of a tumultuous time for the Deputy Premier, which included bushfires in his electorate and a non-fatal car crash involving his 19-year-old daughter Domenica just hours before his beloved father Domenico died.
Just before he took stress leave Mr Barilaro revealed in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that he had received counselling for depression and struggled with the challenges of 2020.
“Everybody’s had some level of trauma in their life,” he said. “It’s about how you manage it and for a long time I thought I could do it on my own — this year I couldn’t.”
Sources close to Mr Barilaro said “these infringements clearly show that the Deputy Premier was struggling with his mental wellbeing given the erratic driving behaviour”.
His spokeswoman said: “The Deputy Premier is currently on mental health leave, which he has been open and transparent about.
“A number of factors over a period of time contributed to the Deputy Premier making the decision to take leave, including dealing with the aftermath of bushfires across the state, the prolonged drought, and the death of his father.”
The spokeswoman made it clear that the driving offences in no way affected Mr Barilaro’s role as Deputy Premier.
“The Deputy Premier will return from leave in the coming weeks,” she said.
Sources inside Mr Barilaro’s office said they were considering launching a data breach investigation to try to track exactly where the information about the Leader of the Nationals’ loss of licence came from.
It is understood they were weighing whether to make a complaint to NSW Police over the matter.
They expressed concern that the level of detail of which The Daily Telegraph was aware of when it made inquiries about the licence loss, and they argued it could have involved a privacy breach.
Their concern will escalate an atmosphere of distrust between the Liberals and Nationals in Macquarie Street.
A separate source said Mr Barilaro was heard talking and complaining about the loss of points on his licence to other MPs in Macquarie Street in the days before he went on leave.