Investment NSW began Barilaro negotiations before he was approved for NY gig

A review into John Barilaro’s appointment as trade commissioner has been scathing of the recruitment process used to hire him, as Premier Dominic Perrottet accepted the system was flawed.

More heads may roll in the aftermath of John Barilaro’s failed appointment as New York Trade commissioner as an independent review found numerous flaws in the process.

Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown came under fire in the report which concluded she failed to disclose key information to the hiring panel and began contract negotiations with Mr Barilaro before the panel had made its final assessment.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said Ms Brown’s future remained in the hands of Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter.

“It’s very clear that mistakes have been made, not just at one point, but at various points along the recruitment process,” he said.

“Mistakes will happen from time to time, and that’s just part of politics. This change today ensures that these errors won’t happen again.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the process was flawed. Picture: Monique Harmer

Mr Perrottet said John Barilaro has done nothing wrong. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Perrottet said neither Mr Barilaro or any of his ministers were aware of the “flaws” in the system.

The saga has already prompted the resignation of former Trade Minister Stuart Ayres.

Mr Barilaro chose to withdraw from the role due to intense media scrutiny.

The investigation conducted by Graeme Head criticised Ms Brown’s failure to “consider relevant factors” when accepting a late application from Jenny West – who had “through the normal course of their duties, access to information about other candidates in the process”.

Ms Brown had told a parliamentary inquiry into the appointment that she had accepted the late application from Ms West because she would support all her colleagues.

Ms West was running the recruitment process and had information about other candidates who had applied.

Graeme Head led the review. Picture: AAP

Mr Head said Ms West had this information in the “normal course” of conducting her duties but Ms Brown failed to disclose this fact to other panel members when discussing conflicts of interest.

The review found there were “matters of real concern” about the “fundamental integrity of the process”.

Ms West was running the recruitment process and had information about other candidates who had applied.

The review found Ms Brown did not disclose this information to other panel members when discussing conflicts of interest.

The review found there were “matters of real concern” about the “fundamental integrity of the process”.

Stuart Ayres resigned from the frontbench over the saga. Picture: David Swift

Ms Brown was again criticised for failing to “fully disclose” key information to all panel members, including that she had involved Mr Ayres when short-listing candidates and that she had arranged one candidates to meet with Mr Ayres while the recruitment was still underway.

She also did not fully disclose that she had discussions with Mr Ayres about the suitability of Mr Barilaro for the job while the recruitment process was underway and that she concluded contact negotiations with Mr Barilaro before the selection panel had done its final assessment of candidates.

“The term ‘arms-length’ is generally understood to mean avoiding close contact. It would be

hard to conclude that close contact between the decision-maker and the relevant minister –

Minister Ayres at the time – had been avoided in this process,” the report said.

“I am not suggesting any impropriety on the part of the then Minister (Ayres), merely that any

characterisation of the process as arm’s-length is not supported by the available material.”

Investment NSW was contacted for a response.