Troy Grant: Deputy Premier Troy Grant hands out ‘Troy Coins’ to visiting dignitaries

These medal-like coins have been produced for the Deputy Premier - already under pressure over the greyhound ban - to hand to visiting dignatories.

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THE ego has landed at Macquarie St in the shape of ­Nationals Leader and Deputy Premier Troy Grant.

Already under fire over the unpopular greyhounds ban, Mr Grant has now courted more controversy with his decision to mint a bizarre collection of “Troy Coins” featuring his many portfolios — which he hands out to foreign dignitaries and other visitors.

These are the coins that Deputy Premier Troy Grant has had minted so he can hand them to visiting dignatries. Picture: Supplied

The medal-like coins, which have cost taxpayers thousands of dollars to produce, “celebrate” his roles as Police Minister, Justice Minister and Deputy Premier.

There is even a choice of Deputy Premier medal featuring the scales of justice, a jockey on a horse and art masks — representing his Police, Justice, Racing and Arts portfolios.

Mr Grant’s office said the medals were handed out to dignitaries and other people who met the Deputy Premier.

Denying they are a waste of taxpayers’ money, Mr Grant described them as more “cost-effective” than the gifts ­traditionally given to visitors.

Troy Grant.

“They’re a ministerial coin the same as police coins ... a traditional gift in policing jurisdictions used to present to visitors delegations or reciprocal to coins presented to me,” Mr Grant said.

“I don't know what other ministers do (for gifts). All I’m doing is honouring tradition.

“If I’m not the Police Minister, no I wouldn’t have them.”

It is not the first time Mr Grant has been at pains to point out the importance of his role as Deputy Premier.

It is understood he once chastised a Liberal minister for referring to the government as the “Baird government” in parliament, rather than the “Baird-Grant government”.

Mr Grant defended his decision to mint the coins, saying they mimicked those given out by the Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and his deputies to police visitors.

“Challenge coins are exchanged between office holders including enforcement officers across world as well as our own Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and Police Association,” a spokesman for Mr Grant said.

“The cost of the coins was met from within NSW Police’s protocol budget.”