Agent-General Stephen Cartwright’s complaints over $600k salary revealed
A series of messages have revealed a NSW public servant complained that his $600k a year salary wasn’t enough to fund his lifestyle in London.
Leaked messages have revealed how Agent-General Stephen Cartwright complained that his $600,000 a year salary wasn’t enough to live on in London.
Mr Cartwright, former CEO of lobby group Business NSW, secured the lucrative, UK-based job with the NSW government in October last year.
His appointment came under scrutiny after it was revealed that he was raised as a potential candidate for the role in mid-February 2021, despite another candidate already being selected for the position and being engaged in salary negotiations.
A NSW Parliamentary Inquiry heard from Dr Marianne Broadbent, Managing Partner of NGS Global, that former secretary of NSW Treasury Michael Pratt asked her firm to interview Mr Cartwright for the role.
Mr Cartwright emerged as the frontrunner for the position, and engaged in protracted salary negotiations with Dr Broadbent and Investment NSW.
The inquiry heard Mr Cartwright had been assured by former Trade Minister John Barilaro and former NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet that his base salary would be augmented by generous allowances.
After suggesting a salary in the ballpark of $800,000, Mr Cartwright ultimately negotiated a package of $600,000 per year, which included expenses and was higher than any other trade minister’s salary.
However, newly released messages between then-trade minister Stuart Ayres in March this year showed Mr Cartwright was less than impressed about his renumeration package.
In a WhatsApp message, seen by The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Carwright complained that his pay was not sufficient enough to support his family’s lifestyle in London.
“All other AGs and Fed Govt execs have rent, car and school fees covered by their govt,” he wrote on March 23.
He then reportedly listed some entitlements other representatives from other Australian states were getting while performing their overseas roles.
“The WA Govt is paying 13,500 pounds per month rent – that’s more than my entire net salary!” Mr Cartwright said.
He then insisted “something has to be done”, suggesting he would have to consider his future in the Agent-General role.
“I have had two offers for CEO roles back in Sydney but I would rather stay here and deliver for NSW. But I can’t live here for 3 years without an apartment that can accommodate my family (at least on school holidays as the school fees here are twice that of Knox),” he wrote, according to the Herald.
“Happy to discuss over the phone if you would prefer but something has to be done.”
Last week, Dr Broadbent told the inquiry she didn’t “recall” Mr Pratt saying he had any conversations with Mr Cartwright leading up to him being suggested for the London role.
She said Mr Cartwright indicated that it “had been suggested to him that he might consider the role” but then Deputy Premier John Barilaro.
“He was interested in making a contribution to NSW and he decided that this role was something he was very interested in,” she said.
Barilaro not best candidate, inquiry told
The examination of Mr Cartwright comes as part of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the appointment of Mr Barilaro to a prominent US trade commissioner role with a hefty paycheck of $500,000 a year.
The inquiry has heard the former Deputy Premier was not the best candidate for the lucrative trade posting in New York for which he was selected soon after quitting politics.
Since it began in June, the inquiry has expanded its examination to include all the senior trade and investment commissioner roles after concerns were raised about London agent-general Mr Cartwright’s appointment.
Dr Broadbent and Warwick Smith, who sat as an independent on the selection panels for the roles, both agreed Mr Barilaro was not the best candidate for the job.
Dr Broadbent told the inquiry the other candidate for the New York role, Kimberley Cole, had been considered a stronger candidate than John Barilaro due to her international experience.
When she submitted a report to that effect, she was asked to amend it by Investment NSW boss Amy Brown to show Mr Barilaro as the front runner.
“(She asked) could I please change the (ranking) order to reflect that and also ensure that I include comments that Mr Barilaro had strong references,” Dr Broadbent said.
“It was one of the rare occasions when I was later advised that (the report) didn’t necessarily reflect the conclusion the panel reached.”
The inquiry heard the panel selected Mr Barilaro after reviewing his high-profile preferences, who included former Liberal NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and former Liberal MP and ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos.
Mr Smith said he didn’t agree with the report’s claim that references were the deciding factor for the panel’s decision.
“They’re good referees, but I wouldn’t say they were the tipping point,” he said.
“It’s kind of a performance on the day on the panel.”
He noted he had not been shown any selection panel reports for the two and half months between interviewing Mr Barilaro and being asked to endorse his selection via email.
Mr Smith told the inquiry he felt “bypassed” and disrespected during the selection process, especially when he learned that the former deputy premier had signed the contract a week before Mr Smith gave his approval.
– with NCA NewsWire
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