NSW Labor claims Perrottet government mired in leaks, infighting and distractions

Labor MP Penny Sharpe has called on the Premier to front-up to a “serious allegation”, claiming the Liberal Party is ‘at war with itself’.

NSW upper house opposition leader Penny Sharpe has claimed the Perrottet government is “at war with itself” while the state faces dual crises of rising costs of living and a struggling hospital system.

“I think that this shows an old government at war with itself now taking revenge on each other through this whole process,” Ms Sharpe said when asked her thoughts on a series of leaks from the Liberal government.

“We just want a government that’s focused on the people of NSW and not on themselves.”

Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Penny Sharpe has said leaks in the Liberal party indicate infighting within the party. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Ms Sharpe sits on the inquiry investigating allegations that former deputy premier John Barilaro was promised a $500,000-a-year New York trade role.

It comes just days after former trade minister Stuart Ayres resigned after new information linked him to the scandal.

The Sun Herald reported on Sunday that the premier allegedly canvassed two trade-related postings with Transport Minister David Elliott, including a parliamentary secretary position that did not exist.

Perrottet reportedly also spoke to Elliott about the role of agent-general in London, the newspaper reported, citing anonymous sources.

Ms Sharpe called on Perrottet to respond to the allegations as soon as possible.

“The idea that the Premier of NSW was discussing with one of his ministers the opportunity for him to go to London as some sort of consolation prize for perhaps being dumped from the ministry is a very serious allegation,” Ms Sharpe said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has been accused of discussing job opportunities with members of his ministry. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

“It flies in the face of everything the Premier has said for the last seven weeks that these are arms-length positions”

“I believe he has even said that it would be illegal for him to even interfere in these.”

So far the Premier has declined an invitation to attend a hearing of the inquiry in July and the Upper House cannot force him to appear.

“Clearly we would want to see him and we’d expect that he would want to provide information to the public,” Ms Sharpe said.

“He’s got to come clean.”

John Barilaro will appear before the committee on Monday and will be questioned on his role in the creation of the positions, the changing nature of the way they were appointed and what guarantees was he offered, if any.

Former deputy premier John Barilaro will speak at the inquiry on Monday. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

The Inquiry is seek to broaden the scope of its investigation to include all appointments for senior trade investment commissioner roles.

Ms Sharpe has said the next position that will get their close attention is the agent-general in London.

This week Labor probed Investment NSW boss Amy Brown over the appointment of the former head of NSW Business Chamber Stephen Cartwright’s appointment to a trade commissioner role in London.

The Opposition will also continue to pursue government documents to help shed light on the reasoning behind and the involvement of ministers in the appointments to the trade positions.