John Barilaro calls in sick to NSW parliament inquiry

Former deputy Premier John Barilaro has dodged a blockbuster day of questioning at an upper house inquiry after he called in sick, citing his ‘mental health’.

Former deputy premier John Barilaro has dodged a grilling over his lucrative New York trade position after the hearing was cancelled early Friday morning.

The hearing, which was set to see Mr Barilaro face a gruelling full day of questions about his appointment, was cancelled due to the former deputy premier’s health.

“Today’s scheduled hearing for the Upper House committee inquiry into the appointment of Mr John Barilaro as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas has been cancelled,” a statement from the Public Accountability Committee said.

“Mr John Barilaro has informed the committee that due to mental health reasons he is unable to attend today’s hearing.”

John Barilaro during questioning this week. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

Mental health minister Bronnie Taylor said she spoke to her “friend” on Friday morning and praised his “honesty”.

“I spoke to John Barilaro this morning, he is a friend, but he is not up to attending the inquiry today,” she said.

“He’s been very open and honest with his struggles with mental health, very open and honest, and as the minister for mental health in NSW that is something we always encourage people to do, we encourage them to speak openly and to speak up and ask for help when they need it.

“This constant attention on him, him waiting three weeks until he was able to give his side of the story at an inquiry — I say to you and I say to anyone out there how would that make you feel and how would you manage that?”

Top of the list of the list for the full day of questions was the circumstances surrounding Mr Barilaro’s recommendation of staffer Jennifer Lugsdin for a job in Investment NSW.

The pair are now in a relationship, but Mr Barilaro asserts they were not together at the time.

Labor was also expected to quiz Mr Barilaro on the Eleni Petinos sacking, specifically a meeting between Ms Petinos and Coronation Group on June 21 — the day after he started as New York trade commissioner.

Former media adviser and Mr Barilaro’s now-girfriend, Jennifer Lugsdin. Picture: Supplied

Mr Barilaro previously worked as executive director at Coronation Group, and the meeting with the former Fair Trade minister was just two weeks before a stop-work ban on a major development was lifted.

The former deputy premier said it was a social function, but it was declared as a meeting in her ministerial diary.