Dominic Perrottet asked to see NSW UK trade role short list

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet asked to see a short list of candidates for the UK agent-general position after another person was deemed the preferred candidate, a parliamentary inquiry has revealed.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet asked to see a short list of candidates for the UK agent-general position after another person was deemed the preferred candidate, a parliamentary inquiry into the John Barilaro jobs scandal has ­revealed.

Emails tendered in the NSW upper house inquiry show Mr Perrottet – who was NSW treasurer at the time – requested a “short list of other candidates” and their resumes before scheduling a meeting with the preferred candidate Paul Webster.

Mr Webster, the current trade and investment commissioner to the UK and Europe, gave evidence via video link from London on Monday, as the inquiry widens its scope to examine how the other trade commissioners were appointed.

The inquiry was launched in June following the controversial appointment of Mr Barilaro, the former NSW Nationals leader, to the $500,000-a-year New York trade role. He later resigned amid widespread criticism.

The months-long saga also forced the resignation of former trade minister Stuart Ayres.

Stephen Cartwright, a former chief executive of the NSW Business Chamber, was appointed to the UK-based role.

The inquiry heard that Mr Webster “wasn’t shocked” to have missed out on the high-­profile position, despite the emails indicating he was the best candidate for the job.

The emails show that a staffer from Mr Perrottet’s office stalled the process of selecting Mr Webster requesting that before an “e-meeting” could be scheduled with the frontrunner, Mr Perrottet wanted to see a list of other candidates.

“The Treasurer has requested a ‘short list’ of the other candidates that were interviewed, together with a copy of their resume,” the email from January 25, 2021, said.

“When the info is available, could you please send to me and I’ll forward to the treasurer for his attention.”

Labor MP Daniel Mookhey accused Mr Perrottet of “misleading the public” on the trade commissioner appointments and valuing his preferences over “merit”.

“It’s a clear case of history repeating itself,” he said.

“An independent process selects a highly qualified candidate like Mr Webster. He is then pushed aside after John Barilaro and Dominic Perrottet decide to recruit their own candidate.”

Mr Perrottet said it wasn’t true that he had previously claimed to have kept at arm’s length from the recruitment process for the UK agent-general role.

“I was kept updated from the Treasury secretary in relation to that process because ultimately it was a cabinet appointment,” he said in August.

The committee revealed in August that Mr Cartwright had negotiated a higher salary than the other trade commissioners of $600,000 and had expected the position to pay $800,000.

Marianne Broadbent, managing director of the independent recruiter for the trade commissions, has told the inquiry she was instructed by former Treasury secretary Michael Pratt to “keep things open” so Mr Cartwright could apply after the panel had ­selected Mr Webster.