John Barilaro: Deputy Premier loses two relatives to coronavirus

Deputy Premier John Barilaro has gained a new respect for the advice of public health officials after the death of two close family members to coronavirus.

Firebrand Deputy Premier John Barilaro has revealed the loss of two close relatives to COVID-19 over Christmas has dramatically changed his stance on controls against the virus.

Despite a history of breaking ranks with the government over border closures and restrictions, the outspoken NSW Nationals leader quietly toed the party line at daily COVID press conferences as acting Premier last week, while mourning the deaths of his aunt and uncle from the virus in Genoa, Italy.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who has had two relatives die of COVID-19. Picture: Adam Yip

“Once it’s in your family, you suddenly realise COVID-19 actually kills, it could happen to any of us,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“What we’re seeing in Australia is nothing compared to the 365,000 deaths in the US, or the 50,000 infections a day in the UK, but my aunty and uncle got hit by COVID and died over Christmas, it knocked us all.

“Their deaths changed me, I realise we’re not out of the woods yet, it’s made me more cautious.”

Mr Barilaro previously lobbied Premier Gladys Berejiklian to ease the NSW and Victoria travel bubble border restrictions early and rethink the permit system.

He pushed hard also for a dramatic relaxing of crowd restrictions for NRL matches and the opening up of Sydney’s ANZ Stadium to lure fans back to the game following the sport’s restart after the COVID-19 shutdown.

John Barilaro’s aunt Maria Inzillo and husband Damiani Nesci, who both died of COVID in Italy in December 2020.

Mr Barilaro said the deaths had shaken his “big, close Italian family” as his mother was very close to her sister.

“Before COVID came into my family, it always stunned me how compliant Australians are at following rules, Italians just don’t. Now I’ve got respect for the advice of Health.”

The 49-year-old father of three has been back at work for three months after a mental breakdown when he hit “rock bottom” after threatening to blow up the Coalition over the koala planning policy debate.

His Calabrese-born father, Domenico, the man he credits for keeping him “grounded” in politics, died battling diabetes in July, aged 79.

The combined deaths of his father, aunt Maria Inzillo, who was in an induced coma when her husband, Damiano Nesci, died four days before her on December 23, meant a subdued family Christmas in Queanbeyan after an “evil” year.

Mr Barilaro was instrumental in ensuring the NRL went ahead this year.

Mr Barilaro has cut down on booze, is eating better and goes for a walk every morning and most afternoons to de-stress. He bought a bicycle to commute around Sydney after the Christmas break – his driver’s licence was suspended following a series of driving infringements, including speeding days before he went on mental health leave.

“I did the crime, that was part of my breakdown, I’m different now,” he said.

“Being Premier, in the hot seat, colleagues wanted to see if I’d roll the grenade, but I took it seriously.

“Avalon (lockdown) meant I had to be serious, I was nervous about my first press conference, people are used to seeing Gladys but she needed a break, after 18 months of being on her feet with bushfires, COVID and having her private life dredged up in the media.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has wiorked closely with Mr Barilaro. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Barilaro said he now felt good. “I’m focused after my breakdown, I’ve had a lot of counselling. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve suffered depression, life caught up with me.”

He will mark 10 years in politics in March and decide then whether to bow out as leader. “I’m still passionate, I’ve still got fire in my belly, I don’t regret saying I’d blow up the Coalition but would I do things differently? Yes, but I’m happy not being vanilla.”

Originally published as John Barilaro: Deputy Premier loses two relatives to coronavirus