If he had his time over, Dominic Perrottet wouldn’t have backed Barilaro applying for New York trade job

A “concerned” and “disappointed” Dominic Perrottet says with hindsight he would have told John Barilaro not to apply for plum NY job, instead of telling him: “go for it”.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said if he “had his time again” he would have asked John Barilaro “not to” apply to a plum trade role instead of saying “Go for it”.

Mr Perrottet said he has been “concerned and disappointed” by explosive revelations from the parliamentary inquiry into John Barilaro’s appointment.

“It has been disappointing. As revelations have come out in respect of the process I have been concerned and disappointed by it,” he said.

“The whole situation has been incredibly disappointing. I understand and appreciate the importance of these roles.

“Clearly what’s come to light is that the process was not well run.”

Mr Perrottet said he wasn’t aware of the “flaws” in the hiring process when he made the comment.
It comes as Mr Perrottet ordered famed lawyer Bruce McCintock to lead a legal review into former Minister Stuart Ayres’s involvement in the saga.

An earlier internal review -- which formed the basis of Mr Ayres resigning — did not cover his involvement sufficiently.

“I will recommend that the Governor appoint Mr Bruce McClintock SC to conduct a legal review into whether the Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, has complied with the Ministerial Code of Conduct in relation to the appointment of the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas,” he said.

“The review will be conducted under Letters Patent issued by the Governor. The findings of Mr McClintock’s review will be made public once it is completed.”

John Barilaro is questioned during the inquiry into the appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on Monday. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA NewsWire

Mr Barilaro on Monday told an inquiry into the controversial appointment he wished he never applied for a plum New York trade role, describing controversy about his appointment as a “sh*t show”.

The former Deputy Premier told a parliamentary inquiry that he “genuinely” believed dumped Trade Minister Stuart Ayres did “nothing” to help him get the $500,000-a-year job.

That is despite Mr Ayres previously admitting that he texted Mr Barilaro a copy of the job advertisement when it was published in the newspaper in December.

Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown has previously told the inquiry that Mr Ayres was not at “arm’s length” of the process.

Mr Barilaro rejected that he had created the trade jobs for “my own self-purpose”.

The inquiry also heard Mr Barilaro spoke to Investment NSW boss Amy Brown for a job in the agency on behalf of his senior media adviser and his current girlfriend Jennifer Lugsdin.

Mr Barilaro said the pair were not in a relationship with Ms Lugsdin at the time and so no disclosures were made to Ms Brown when he “went in to bat” for his adviser.

“I was not in a relationship with her when I was Deputy Premier or Trade Minister,” he said.

Mr Barilaro said Ms Lugsdin told him she was applying for a job at the agency and asked him to be a referee and he contacted Ms Brown on her behalf — one of the three phone calls he had with his in the course of his role as Trade Minister.

Labor MLC Penny Sharpe named the adviser as Ms Lugsdin who worked in Mr Barilaro‘s office for two years and left his office to go to Investment NSW in July 2021 in a similar role.

Mr Barilaro said his contact with Mr Brown was not frequent however went “in to bat” for Ms Lugsdin as he would for his other employees.

Mr Barilaro is due back before the inquiry on Friday.