Resignation letter sent to ICAC raises ‘concerns’ about Eleni Petinos’ ‘relationship’ with developer, reveals Barilaro text

A secret resignation letter from Building Commissioner David Chandler raises “concerns” about Eleni Petinos and a developer linked to John Barilaro.

“Important” building reforms ran into “serious disruption” after dumped Minister Eleni Petinos took over as Fair Trading Minister, the outgoing Building Commissioner has alleged.

The claims were made in David Chandler’s letter to resign as Building Commissioner, which outlined his “concerns” about the relationship between Ms Petinos and a developer linked with former Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

As The Daily Telegraph revealed on Saturday, Mr Chandler said his engagement with Ms Petinos’ office had been “problematic”.

“A similar experience has been reported to me by other officers in the department and important pieces of previously canvassed legislation have now run into serious disruption,” he said in his resignation letter.

The letter also reveals that Department of Customer Service boss Emma Hogan knew of Mr Chandler’s “concerns” about the relationship between Ms Petinos and Coronation Property, where Mr Barilaro was employed from February to June this year.

“I have raised with you concerns that I have with the advised relationship of the Minister and Coronation Property Group,” the resignation letter said.

He said the concerns “crystallised” at the time that a stop work order was slapped on Coronation in April.

David Chalmers' (left) resignation letter, insets' raised concerns about his dealings with dumped minister Eleni Petinos' (middle) office, and reveals a text he received to his personal phone from John Barilaro (right). Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

Mr Chandler’s resignation letter, released to parliament on Thursday, has also confirmed that he received a text from Mr Barilaro after the stop work order was lifted.

He said the text was sent to his “personal phone”.

I received a call from the Minister’s Office shortly after a draft order was issued on Coronation’s Merrylands Development,” he said.

“Shortly after that call, a message was sent tome by John Barilaro who I was advised had recently joined the Coronation Board.“

The message was to request a meeting, he said.

Building Commissioner raised concerns about Eleni Petinos’ relationship with Coronation Property Co in a July 7 resignation letter. Picture: Toby Zerna

Separately, Mr Chandler claims he was the subject of attempts to attack his character after he was first appointed.

Mr Chandler also outlined concerns with an investigation into leaked video in which he was pictured telling builders he had an “informal list of certifiers” that he “wouldn’t be bloody having on a job”.

The investigation cleared him of misleading parliament but found that he had breached a Departmental code of conduct.

“I do not accept any inference that I have ever acted unethically in performing my role as NSW Building Commissioner,” he said in his letter, which was sent just two days after Ms Petinos’ office was told of the investigation’s findings.

Dumped Minister Eleni Petinos. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Labor Better Regulation spokeswoman Courtney Houssos said the letter raises “serious questions”.

“The main thing that I am concerned is that (Mr Chandler) raised concerns on several occasions about the relationship between the Minister (Ms Petinos) and Coronation Property group,” she said.

Ms Petinos was contacted for comment.