John Barilaro breaks silence over New York job after video emerges of media clash
A freelance cameraman working for Seven News has described the moments former Deputy Premier John Barilaro allegedly made a “beeline” for him and his camera.
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A freelance cameraman working for Seven News has described the moments former Deputy Premier John Barilaro allegedly made a “beeline” for him and his camera.
Cameraman Matt Costello said Mr Barilaro was “aggressive right from the get go”.
“I was scared, I have never experienced something by someone of such high calibre,” he said on Seven News.
“As soon as I came around the corner, and turned the top light on, he made a bee line for me. He was very irate that we were there.
“I don’t have a working camera, the incident has re-aggravated an existing back injury … the camera is more important to me … that is my livelihood.”
Mr Costello said he was entitled to do his job in a public space.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a normal punter — or a former deputy premier — you can’t behave like that no matter who you are,” he said. “I was doing my job, as I’m entitled to do in a public space.”
It’s understood there were two cameramen there because of a shift swap and the second cameraman filmed the incident after Mr Barilaro is claimed to have approached his colleague.
It comes after Premier Dominic Perrottet said secret documents about John Barilaro’s appointment to a plum New York trade role would be released to parliament by the end of the Tuesday.
Amid increasing scrutiny over how Mr Barilaro was recruited for the $500,000 per year role, the former Deputy Premier was involved in an altercation with a cameraman on Saturday night.
Speaking from Seoul, Mr Perrottet said that while there was “no place for those altercations”, private citizens should not be harassed.
“There is no place for altercations in society like that, but I also make the point, as Mr Barilaro has pointed out, that people get pushed and pushed and pushed, and I don’t believe any place for harassment,” Mr Perrottet said.
The Premier has become increasingly frustrated over the government’s failure to release the tranche of documents ordered by a parliamentary inquiry about the second recruitment round for a $500,000 a year trade commissioner job in Manhattan.
He says relevant documents – except for those covered by cabinet secrecy – should be released immediately.
The second recruitment round resulted in Mr Barilaro being appointed to the role, before he withdrew citing media scrutiny.
Labor succeeded on Monday in ordering for Parliament to be recalled on Friday over the government failing to hand over internal documents before the deadline.
“The advice I’ve received today is of those the majority of those documents will be produced by the end of the day, and any outstanding documents will be produced by the end of the week. That meets my expectations,” Mr Perrottet said.
‘I’M BEING INTRUDED ON’: CAMERAMAN SCUFFLE
Earlier on Monday, Barilaro broke his silence after a video emerged of him involved in a public tussle with the media following allegations against him relating to the New York trade job.
Mr Barilaro — who stepped down from a controversial appointment as NSW trade commissioner amid media pressure — was seen in a physical altercation with a cameraman in a video posted to the Creatures of Manly Instagram page.
Police are investigating the video.
Shortly after the video was sent to 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Mr Barilaro confirmed that it was him in the video and that the incident occurred last Saturday night in Manly after going out “for a few drinks and a pizza” with friends and former colleagues.
Although admitting he had “tried to stay quiet (during) this whole ordeal”, the former MP felt compelled to speak out after the film was circulated.
“I’m being intruded on and harassed … by the media at the forefront,” he told the radio host.
“I came out in the dark with a camera and microphone in my face … I’ve got nothing to say. I’m a private citizen.
“The way I’m being treated … harassed … it doesn’t just affect me, it affects friends and family all around me.”
The former Deputy Premier defended his actions in the video, claiming that he “pushed” the camera away after some of those attending the dinner were caught up in the fracas.
“The reality is, people are like, piling on, harassing, intruding and not allowing me to get on with my life,” he said.
“You can see that bright light shining in my bloody face. People have the right to protect themselves.”
He declined to comment on who he believed the media outlet was who approached him on the night.
“I probably do (know), but I’m not going to say which outlet. I don’t think it’s right. Cameramen are chasing me down the street like a criminal,” he said.
“I’ve kept my silence because I don’t want to prosecute this case in the public realm.”
INQUIRY CALLS
Meanwhile Mr Barilaro has been invited to make a written statement to an inquiry into his appointment to a plum New York trade role, but will not be called to give evidence until more documents are provided to parliament.
Public Accountability Committee Chair Cate Faehrmann wrote to Mr Barilaro on Monday inviting a written submission.
“I can also confirm the committee’s intention to invite you as a witness to a future hearing for the inquiry,” she said, noting that would not happen until government documents about his recruitment are provided.
Earlier, Mr Barilaro told 2GB that he was “disgusted” that he has not been called as a witness.
“I’m calling on the Labor Party to stop playing politics in the upper house (and) turning this inquiry into a circus. I’m available to turn up to an inquiry this week to tell my side of the story,” he said.
The inquiry did not believe it can could call Mr Barilaro as a witness until the government provided the tranche of documents.
Mr Barilaro and Nationals allies have been urging the committee to call the Deputy Premier as a witness as soon as possible, in order for him to tell his side of the story.
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