John Barilaro

Former deputy premier says Dominic Perrottet raised no concerns, but 'I wish I'd never applied'

As the former minister for trade, Barilaro had played a role in establishing the trade commissioner jobs prior to leaving parliament. Amy Brown, the head of Investment NSW, has also told the inquiry he acted as an “informal” reference for the former deputy premier. All I can remember is ‘great’, and that was it.” On Monday Barilaro said he was not aware of any involvement by the minister in his recruitment, but said he didn’t believe the former trade minister was seeking to help him get the role. And I will use those terms because the trauma I have experienced in the past few weeks is significant.” Barilaro told the inquiry that he also messaged the Treasurer, Matt Kean, prior to applying for the role, to seek his counsel.

Barilaro reveals ex-premier as his third referee for trade post; rejects accusations he manipulated trade job process, says Labor is “making me out to be ...

And that would give me the cover ... when the political attack was always going to come because it was always going to come. He also said the “apolitical” public service would resist any pressure from former MPs. “What you are now questioning is their personal integrity,” he said. “I accepted the job because I genuinely believed the process was fair and right. I applied through an independent process ... and [was] offered a job.” “I’ve been lucky enough that these people know me. “I went into an independent process, and a panel offered me the job. She had a short-term contract [at Investment NSW] that finished in December and well before I applied for the job in January,” Barilaro said. People speak for and against a [submission]. It was actually quite a vocal debate in support. That’s what I did,” he said. The pair have a history of conflict. So this is why it becomes material.”

John Barilaro told a parliamentary committee the NSW premier told him it was "great" he intended to apply for a lucrative trade commissioner role.

Mr Barilaro said he told Mr Ayres he was interested in the role in December and the then-minister later sent him the job ad. Mr Barilaro told the inquiry he would not throw his hat in the ring for the taxpayer-funded role again if he had the opportunity to do things differently. Mr Barilaro on Monday told a parliamentary inquiry into his appointment to the position that he flagged his interest in the $500,000-a-year role with the NSW premier in November.

The inquiry into John Barilaro's appointment as New York trade commissioner has just resumed. Barilaro reveals that his third referee was former NSW premier ...

He goes on to say that he was the “victim” of a flawed recruitment process. The reality is that I didn’t know any of that either. Police then ascended the internal staircase of the premises where they noticed a large amount of blood on the staircase and ... identified the location of two bodies. It was one of only three calls between the pair, the inquiry hears. The man was provided with first aid and taken into police custody. But she said she did her best “under trying circumstances”. Brown says the process was made more complicated by the high level of ministerial interest. It is the third time Brown has given evidence to this inquiry. Elliott told News Corp he would withdraw from the contest if Kean also stepped aside for a woman to fill the role. He had wanted a package of $800,000 a year, the inquiry heard. Shesays the concerns were “well-founded”. The pair have a history of conflict. The good thing about it was that minister Ayres contacted me and said ‘look you can do what you like, because Cartwright is your employee.

The ongoing saga has already claimed the scalp of former deputy Liberal leader Stuart Ayres.

Mr Barilaro said he told Mr Ayres he was interested in the role in December and the then-minister later sent him the job ad. Mr Barilaro told the inquiry he would not throw his hat in the ring for the taxpayer-funded role again if he had the opportunity to do things differently. Mr Barilaro on Monday told a parliamentary inquiry into his appointment to the position that he flagged his interest in the $500,000-a-year role with the NSW premier in November.

The former deputy premier of New South Wales on Monday fronted the inquiry investigating his appointment to the lucrative job of Senior Trade & Investment ...

New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Stream more on politics with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. Mr Barilaro said he told Premier Dominic Perrottet of his interest in the position last November – who said to “go for it”. Mr Barilaro was then pressed if it was a “habit” for his office to sign documents on his behalf. John Barilaro has claimed he was unaware that Jenny West was the successful candidate for the trade role in New York he later received, despite his signature appearing on a brief endorsing her. A document shared in the inquiry revealed Mr Barilaro was invited to endorse Ms West to the position when he was deputy premier -with his signature appearing at the bottom.

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro says an inquiry into his appointment to a New York trade role had produced "no evidence" of improper conduct.

None. Zero," Mr Barilaro said Monday. "What did I do wrong? Mr Barilaro told the hearing Premier Dominic Perrottet also supported his bid for the role after he flagged his interest in November, one month after announcing his intention to resign from politics. Labor's Daniel Mookhey put to Mr Barilaro his prominent referees could have been "a key factor" in him getting the role. "He is a dear friend and I sent him a message and he offered to be my referee, it is as simple as that," he told the inquiry on Monday. A defiant Mr Barilaro questioned the committee probing his appointment to the $500,000-a-year trade role in New York over whether it had uncovered anything that challenged the integrity of the hiring process.

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has made multiple revelations under serious questioning over his appointment to a New York trade role.

He said he had been offered a job as executive director for the Coronation Group at the time. "I didn't know that Jenny West was offered a contract … this inquiry has really opened that up," Mr Barilaro said. Mr Barilaro said he had "no issue" with Ms West, who he described as a "strong professional". She says that offer was later revoked and she was told the job would be a "present" for someone. In fact, he... Mr Barilaro told the inquiry he flagged his interest in the role to Premier Dominic Perrottet on a phone call in November, after his resignation from cabinet, to which he claimed Mr Perrottet responded "great". Mr Barilaro was asked about a briefing note sent to his office stating a candidate for the job, Jenny West, had been selected for the role in August 2021. He said he didn't recall seeing the note, but accepted it contained an electronic signature of his in accordance with a process in his office for when he was away. "He indicated that he wanted to apply for this job, I encouraged him to do so as he obviously did," Mr Kean said. He said he was "disappointed" the process hadn't been "as clean as it should have been", saying: "I'm the victim of that, not the perpetrator." He described the past seven weeks since he relinquished the role as "unbearable", and later said he wished he had never applied for it. Mr Barilaro said he understood why some members of the public might view his recruitment to the role as suspicious, but was adamant the process was independent.

The saga surrounding the former deputy premier has been described by the man himself as “a personal hell”. Here is how it has played out so far.

I came to an idea that that was an option that I would pursue,” he told the inquiry. “(We had a) chat about my wellbeing, his wellbeing, everything else, how it was all going – hadn’t really spoken since the reshuffle, I don’t believe. I actually don’t know, I can’t recall the exact words; he was supportive. “He was supportive. “There will be just another crisis or another wave and I thought it was time for a refreshed leadership, speaking to friends and family. Sometime in late January, into the early parts of February, Mr Barilaro told the inquiry he had ran into Mr Perrottet in Martin Place and told him he had applied for the job.

Former NSW Deputy Premier and Monaro MP John Barilaro described himself as the.

Today it was revealed his references were Department Regional NSW Secretary Gary Barnes, US Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos and former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, whom Mr Barilaro described as a “dear friend”. “What did I do wrong? “The allegations in relation to the creation of a role that I would give somebody outside of politics is completely false and offensive,” he said. He said the inquiry had raised “serious questions” about whether the multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded positions had delivered “value for money”. “I had the capability to be a great salesman for this great state,” he said. Ms Brown said Minister Ayres had been “keen” for the roles to be advertised before the end of 2021. Mr Barilaro said while he may not have had the same qualifications as some of the other candidates, he applied because he saw it as a chance to “sell NSW in a way we’d never sold it before”. “It was an error to offer Mr Barilaro’s job … before the final report was signed,” she said. When Mr Barilaro was pushed that he had made the Cabinet submission to change how the STIC roles were appointed for his own gain, Mr Barilaro said it was an “unfortunate timeline”. Mr Barilaro said it was “very public” that he wasn’t contesting the 2023 election and saw Ms Berejiklian’s resignation as a chance for him to also step aside for a “refresh of government”. “I had no role in seeking any favour or special treatment in the process,” he said. He called the timeline a “series of coincidences” and “bad timing”.

Ex-NSW deputy premier John Barilaro to testify at probe into New York trade appointment.

“I went through several interviews, psychometric testing, and a police check. It would have been the opposite if they had proceeded with the statutory appointments. “This was an independent process, a public service job. It was that simple,” he said about his conversation with Mr Ayres. “That's the first part. It was a query in relation to that role. Mr Barilaro told the inquiry that accusations his appointment was a case of “jobs for the boys” were baseless because a public service panel had dealt with the application. “I saw that report in the media … there was a board, the CEO used to address members as board members and there were minutes for those meetings,” he said. “I was not in a relationship with her while I was the deputy premier or the trade minister,” he said. She revealed the state’s agent-general in London – the UK equivalent of the job Mr Barilaro sought in New York – had asked for a “ridiculous” paycheck when he was negotiating his contract. Opposition upper house leader Penny Sharpe said she “wasn’t thrilled” to go into it and that the line of questioning was “uncomfortable”, but proceeded to press Mr Barilaro on whether he had declared any “personal relationship” he had with the woman. A furious John Barilaro has told a parliamentary hearing it’s “disgusting” to suggest he sought to change the appointment process for a lucrative New York job so that he would be chosen for the role.

NSW Liberals are bracing for John Barilaro's appearance at a parliamentary probe, Senate climate bill negotiations are heating up and the defence minister ...

Treasurer Matt Kean said he would put his hand up for the role. - There were 20,189 new COVID-19 cases and at least 14 deaths (a figure that does not include WA’s numbers) recorded nationally in the latest reporting period. - Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe has responded to the controversy surrounding her swearing in, at which she referred to the Queen as a coloniser.

John Barilaro, the former deputy premier of NSW, finally lost his cool on Monday afternoon after a pointed question from Labor at the inquiry into his ...

I accepted the job. I was offered a job. I got offered a job, I accepted the job... I then withdrew from this job. Nothing excluded me in doing so. 'I refute any suggestion of wrongdoing. 'Let me make this clear. 'Mr O’Farrell knew, and knows, my ability and capabilities. 'But we don’t actually have records of that happening. Mr Barilaro said he could not remember when that conversation with Ms Brown took place, but that he was not in a relationship with Ms Lugsdin at the time. Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro is pictured giving evidence during the inquiry into his appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on Monday, August 8, 2022 Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro gives evidence during the inquiry into his appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on Monday, August 8, 2022

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro said he had been denied a presumption of innocence in an inquiry into his New York trade post.

Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown said the former MP had inquired about the role but never raised the nature of his relationship with Ms Lugsdin. I followed the exact same process that was afforded to others,” he told the committee. Mr Perrottet issued a demand for unity on Monday and ordered Transport Minister David Elliott to pull out of a race for the deputy leadership in a bid to steady the Liberal Party as the inquiry continues to stoke internal upset. At the weekend, the spectre of a vote on the deputy leadership pushed internal tensions to a fever pitch as Treasurer Matt Kean prepared to square off against Mr Elliott for the role on Tuesday morning. But the brawl was put on ice on Monday after Mr Perrottet urged Mr Elliott to respect his choice of deputy. “I applied for a public service job as a private citizen.

“I'm the victim, not the perpetrator”, the former deputy premier declared memorably in his much anticipated appearance before the upper house committee ...

Nor, according to Barilaro, did alarm bells ring for Treasurer Matt Kean, who we now learn was informed by Barilaro in December. That was followed by Berejiklian resigning on October 1, prompting Barilaro’s own resignation some days later. That, Barilaro thundered, was preposterous, a “disgusting slur and accusation”. Far from the luckiest, he was the “unluckiest” man in state politics, Barilaro declared.

Former deputy premier John Barilaro helped his staff member-turned-girlfriend secure a job at Investment NSW but insisted he had made no decisions about his ...

She was reviewed as the most qualified and skilled candidate put forward by four pre-qualified suppliers. “[Kean] would have told me bluntly if he thought it was going to be an issue, for sure. Barilaro said the pair were not in a relationship when he made the phone call. Ayres was also an informal referee for his application. He has denied any wrongdoing. Barilaro split from his wife of 26 years, Deanna, late last year. “I wish I never had applied. Barilaro launched a fierce defence of his right as a private citizen to apply for the US trade role, despite being the minister responsible for the positions when he was still in cabinet. He also said he wished he never applied for the trade commissioner role after the “personal hell” he has endured in the seven weeks since his appointment and subsequent withdrawal from the role. “It hasn’t been as clean as it should have been and I’m the victim out of that, not the perpetrator,” he said. Appearing before the parliamentary inquiry investigating his controversial appointment as trade commissioner to the Americas on Monday, Barilaro rejected “any suggestion of wrongdoing” in being awarded the posting and described himself as the “victim”, not “the perpetrator”. Barilaro confirmed he “went in to bat” last year to help his now partner and one-time staffer, Jennifer Lugsdin, secure a job as a media adviser at Investment NSW, an agency which came under his control at the time and was also responsible for later advertising the $500,000-a-year New York trade post he secured.

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro's decision to go after a plum New York trade role that he created while in government – which he allegedly referred ...

Barilaro, a politician who proudly embraced the moniker John “Pork-Barrel-aro” while in office, is clearly not the victim in this story. “I’m the victim, not the perpetrator,” he said late in the testimony, making it explicit. The saga has also brought attention to other dubious processes: two former NSW ministers were given “last-minute” interviews for senior trade roles despite there already being preferred candidates, and the premier reportedly told Transport Minister David Elliott that he would create a role for him after dumping him from cabinet.

Analysis: Former deputy premier's appearance at inquiry was always going to generate plenty of headlines.

Again, she had no insight into how that figure appeared to have been floated. Yes, I’ve had to say to the premier, ‘Yep, you’re the boss’,” Elliott said. None of them, he told the inquiry, raised any concerns. Then, during her own appearance before the committee, Brown said she had later made inquiries about whether Lugsdin had declared any conflict of interest when reports of the relationship began to surface in the media in December. He seemed to believe he had an “elevated status”, she said, and threatened to “go to” Perrottet during a dispute over his contract. Yes, I’ve had to eat humble pie.

An upper house inquiry into John Barilaro's appointment to a plum trade job will later this week put the former deputy premier's relationship under the ...

"Yes, I'm disappointed. Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown, who returned to the inquiry yesterday for a third time, said she remembered a call from Mr Barilaro in which he said Ms Lugsdin was looking for new opportunities. Mr Barilaro told the inquiry he was not in a relationship with her while he was deputy premier, or in cabinet. He also told the inquiry he recommended his former media advisor, who later became his girlfriend, Jennifer Lugsdin, for a role at Investment NSW last year. - The inquiry heard Mr Barilaro recommended his former media advisor and girlfriend for a role at Investment NSW Former deputy premier John Barilaro has been told to prepare for a grilling about his girlfriend's job at Investment NSW later this week, as the saga into his appointment to a lucrative trade position continues.

Chris Minns has weighed in on the state of the NSW Liberal party amid ongoing revelations from the inquiry into the former deputy premier's appointment to a ...

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John Barilaro has told an inquiry that he is the “victim” in the saga surrounding the $500000 New York trade commissioner position.

I accepted the job. I was offered a job. I then withdrew from this job. We need to know how it’s been spent. “Let me make this clear. Nothing excluded me in doing so.

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro is today speaking at the inquiry into his appointment to a plum NY trade job. Follow live here.