Stuart Ayres, Premier briefed on successful NYC trade job winner, emails say

Liberal MPs say Stuart Ayres needs to answer why he told parliament a US trade role had “no suitable candidate” yet signed a brief noting someone had ­already been verbally offered the job.

Former deputy premier John Barilaro’s appointment to a lucrative NSW government job in New York was one of only two trade commissioner appointments that did not come before cabinet ministers before being announced.

The cabinet leak came as Liberal MPs said Trade Minister Stuart Ayres had questions to answer over why he told parliament that a recruitment process for the US trade role did not identify a “suitable candidate” despite earl­ier signing a ministerial brief noting that someone had ­already been verbally offered the job.

Out of the six trade commissioners that have been appointed by the government, four were either “noted” or “approved” by cabinet.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that appointments to positions based in Singapore and India were raised in a subcommittee of cabinet in November last year, where they were “noted” before they were announced.

That is in addition to the first two trade commissioner roles, which Premier Dominic Perrottet has said went to cabinet in error.

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres. Picture: Gaye Gerard

The revelation threatens to put further pressure on Mr Perrottet and Mr Ayres to ­explain Mr Barilaro’s app­ointment to the $500,000-a-year role.

Mr Ayres on Tuesday faced calls to explain why he told parliament that an initial recruitment round for the job did not find a “suitable candidate,” after documents released to parliament revealed he signed a brief noting public servant Jenny West had been “successful” after a “full ­recruitment process”.

Premier Dominic Perrottet’s office was briefed that Jenny West had been selected as the top pick for the trade commissioner role. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Ayres will join Mr Perrottet in India on Thursday for the final leg of a troubled trade tour to officially open the NSW government’s trade and investment office in Mumbai.

One Liberal said the Premier’s visit to India with Mr Ayres was set to be a “train wreck,” with another describing the situation as a “complete mess”.

Labor called on Mr Ayres to explain the inconsistencies between his statements to parliament and the signed briefing note.

“All the evidence is showing that Stuart Ayres deliberately misled the parliament, it’s for Dominic Perrottet now to show leadership in ­response,” Labor’s treasury spokesman Daniel Mookhey said.

Documents connected to former deputy premier John Barilaro’s appointment to an NYC trade role show Jenny West was the preferred. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Perrottet backed his under-fire minister from South Korea on Tuesday, saying he had received advice which indicated Mr Ayres did not lie to parliament.

However, Mr Perrottet acknowledged that the signed brief noting public servant Jenny West as the “successful candidate” for the New York trade role could lead to that “interpretation”.

A trove of documents provided to parliament show Mr Perrottet’s office received a document noting Ms West was to be appointed to the trade role which was later given to Mr Barilaro.

This was before her contract was wound back.

Jenny West gives evidence before a parliamentary committee. Picture: Nikki Short

“To notify the Treasurer of the outcome of the recruitment search for a STIC – Americas. The Premier and Deputy Premier will also be notified of the successful candidate,” the briefing said.

“After a full recruitment process, the successful candidate is Ms Jenny West.”

Although the brief is unsigned, an email chain between a staff working for the then-Treasurer noted that a brief was returned to Investment NSW.

Mr Perrottet declined to express his faith in the entire process being above board, noting he had established a review into the matter.

In a statement, Mr Ayres said the signed brief “does not represent the end of the ­recruitment process,” something which he said was ­determined by Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown.

He said the brief was “consistent” with what he told parliament last month.

The offices of then Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Stuart Ayres and John Barilaro himself were also briefed on Ms West’s successful candidacy, the documents show.