Barry O’Farrell enjoys perks of India trade envoy

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has sent her political mentor, Barry O’Farrell, on a $6000 taxpayer-funded trip to India.

Former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell. Picture: AFP

NSW Premier Gladys Berejik­lian has sent her political mentor, former premier Barry O’Farrell, on a $6000 taxpayer-funded trip to India as part of his role as a “special trade envoy for NSW”, which follows a similar $5000 trip on behalf of the state government earlier this year.

Mr O’Farrell, who resigned as premier in 2014 after misleading ICAC over the gift of a $3000 bottle of Grange, was quietly ­appointed to the position of India trade envoy by his successor, Mike Baird, in October last year.

Mr O’Farrell, who receives a taxpayer-funded pension of $150,000 a year, was also ­appointed by Mr Baird to the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust board and has taken a $300,000-plus a year job with Racing ­Australia.

He is one of several state trade ­envoys, including former federal Liberal minister Warwick Smith, who is a “special adviser — trade and investment”.

The other envoys have travelled only with the Premier, but Mr O’Farrell travelled on his own to represent NSW.

In January 10 and 11 this year, while Mr Baird was premier, Mr O’Farrell attended the Vibrant Gujarat summit in India at a cost of $5040, the government confirmed. He then attended Australia India Business Week in August, at a cost of $6444.

“The Premier was unable to visit India in 2017, so Mr O’Farrell attended on the Premier’s behalf,” her spokesman said. “Both missions were at the invitation of the federal government.

“The NSW government has covered costs for the other three trade envoys on overseas ­missions they have accom­panied the Premier on.’’

Opposition Leader Luke Foley said: “The Premier needs to explain exactly what’s expected of Mr O’Farrell in his role as special envoy to India. The taxpayer has every right to know who he meets on these trips and the potential benefits to the state.

“Given the taxpayer will be picking up the bill for flights and accommodation, at the very least we should expect a full report from Mr O’Farrell detailing his itinerary and what steps the government can take to progress any leads he might have made. Failure to do that will only invite accusations that this is nothing more than a junket.”

Ms Berejiklian’s spokesman said: “Former premier Mike Baird created the unpaid positions of trade envoys in 2016 to drive bilateral trade opportunities between NSW and the state’s largest trading partners. Trade envoys are able to identify business and trade opportunities.

“They support and promote NSW in those markets and have very longstanding relationships in these markets, which NSW leverages to deliver trade outcomes. Mission reports will be published in the coming period.”