Premier orders John Barilaro’s New York job go under review

A review will be conducted into how former deputy premier John Barilaro was given a plum gig in New York after a senior public servant had been highlighted as a top pick for the role.

Former deputy premier John Barilaro was not required to seek approval from the parliamentary ethics adviser to take up a $500,000-per-year job because of an obscure clause in the Ministerial Code of Conduct which Labor has labelled a “loophole”.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has now ordered a review of how the former deputy premier was controversially appointed to a plum New York posting after a senior public servant had already been identified as a “preferred candidate”.

Liberal MPs are furious that the controversy surrounding the appointment has overshadowed the state budget. Mr Barilaro was ultimately chosen for the Senior Trade Investment Commissioner job by Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown.

Ms Brown previously reported to Mr Barilaro when he was a Minister.

The New York posting is one of the few jobs the former deputy premier could have accepted without seeking prior advice – because he is working for the state of NSW.

Former Deputy Premier John Barilaro. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

But The Daily Telegraph can also reveal that Mr Barilaro accepted a board position at the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia (ICCIAUS) in December, while still serving as a member of parliament, before clearing the role with the parliamentary ethics adviser.

Documents tabled to parliament show that Mr Barilaro later sought “retrospective advice” about whether he could accept the job.

“I note that you already commenced the role with ICCIAUS in December 2021,” parliamentary ethics adviser John Evans said in a letter to Mr Barilaro.

“It is important for public accountability that I can provide advice unrestrained by a former minister having already taken up post-separation employment, as such can be subject to public scrutiny.”

For 18 months after leaving office, former ministers are required to seek advice before accepting jobs that relate to their most recent portfolios, except if they are employed by the state.

“There clearly is a loophole when it comes to having to consult the ethics adviser for State Government appointments. This is a loophole that needs to be closed,” Labor Leader Chris Minns said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has ordered a review into why Mr Barilaro was given the job. Picture: David Swift

“I think a lot of the problems here would have been avoided if the parliamentary ethics adviser was consulted prior to the New York appointment,” he said.

The Telegraph sent specific questions to Mr Barilaro, and was told to put queries about the trade appointment to Investment NSW.

The department said it was assisting with the review into the recruitment process.

“It is not appropriate to make further comment on the matter at this time,” a statement said.

The review will begin next week. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

An Investment NSW spokesman said that the initial recruitment process produced “no suitable candidates” for the role, and the position was readvertised, after which time Mr Barilaro applied.

One Liberal yesterday said that while Mr Barilaro was the “ideal candidate” for the role as someone who could sell NSW to the world, the way the appointment was made had created problems for the government.

Mr Perrottet on Thursday said that his departmental secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter would review the appointment, and that review would be made public.

The Premier has maintained the selection process was handled independently.