Nationals minister Adam Marshall foiled in bid to sack tourism chief

A NSW Nationals MP was rolled by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian last year for trying to sack a senior public servant.

NSW Tourism Minister Adam Marshall.

A NSW Nationals MP being groomed to replace Barnaby Joyce in the seat of New England was rolled by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian last year for trying to sack a senior public servant.

The Australian has learned that NSW Tourism Minister Adam Marshall, the member for Northern Tablelands and a Nationals MP with ambitions of leadership, had sought to remove Destinations NSW chief executive Sandra Chipchase only months after he was promoted to the ministry ­because he believed the agency was Sydney-centric and not promoting the bush.

Ms Chipchase, who is also the executive producer of Vivid Sydney and was picked for the job by former Liberal premier Barry O’Farrell, was reappointed to the role in 2016 by the former tourism minister Stuart Ayres.

However, The Australian has been told a “personality clash” ­between Mr Marshall and Ms Chipchase prompted him to start a process for her dismissal.

Ms Berejiklian was forced to ­intervene when told about it.

Given the seniority of Ms Chipchase’s position, Mr Marshall needed approval from the Premier before progressing the termination of her contract.

Mr Marshall is believed to have made a formal representation to the Premier that Ms Chipchase be removed in May last year.

Colleagues of Ms Berejiklian said the Premier was taken aback by Mr Marshall’s insistence that Ms Chipchase be replaced.

A senior Liberal source claimed the attempted sacking was not about personalities but was sparked by accusations that Ms Chipchase had ignored the bush when it came to promoting NSW as a tourism and event destination.

“This was clearly untrue,” the source said.

Mr Marshall declined to comment to The Australian, as did Ms Berejiklian.