Ayres under fire in scathing report into Barilaro trade job scandal

Former trade minister Stuart Ayres,who lost his cabinet position in the midst of the John Barilaro job scandal,is a key target of a scathing public report which found the process lacked transparency,integrity and amounted to a “jobs for the boys” appointment.

An upper house inquiry found that Ayres,who has been promised a return to Premier Dominic Perrottet’s cabinet if the Coalition secures an election victory,misled the public and potentially the parliament in relation to Barilaro’s recruitment as US trade commissioner.

Stuart Ayres resigned as trade minister over his role in the recruitment process.

Stuart Ayres resigned as trade minister over his role in the recruitment process.Dominic Lorrimer

The Labor-led inquiry made the findings in a searing interim report of the jobs scandal that paralysed the Perrottet government last year.

Fiery testimony at public hearings and reams of internal government documents last year exposed damning revelations,including that Barilaro was not the preferred candidate for the role.

“This whole sorry saga has shaken the public’s confidence in the integrity of Public Service recruitment,” the report found. Barilaro resigned from the posting before it commenced.

While the inquiry was triggered by Barilaro’s appointment to the US role,its scope was widened to examine the appointment of UK agent-general Stephen Cartwright. NSW Labor has asked Barilaro to give evidence at the inquiry as it continues its probe.

John Barilaro at the parliamentary inquiry examining his recruitment as US trade commissioner.

John Barilaro at the parliamentary inquiry examining his recruitment as US trade commissioner.Kate Geraghty

Ayres,who is the member for Penrith – one of the government’s most at-risk electorates – rejected the findings,which conflict with an earlier review that found he did not overstep as trade minister.

He said the report was a “poor attempt at political mud slinging”,and cited the findings of last year’s review by former ICAC inspector Bruce McClintock,SC,that he acted honestly and lawfully.

“At no stage did I directly or indirectly encourage the public service to appoint Mr Barilaro. That decision was made independently of me as minister. To suggest anything else is plainly false,” Ayres said on Monday.

Parliament last year heard Barilaro was appointed to the $500,000-a-year role in early 2021,despite senior public servant Jenny West having already been offered the job,which was one of five global trade commissioner roles created by Barilaro when he was trade minister.

As public sector appointments,ministers were to play no role in the recruitment,interviewing or selection of candidates for the roles.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns with senior Labor upper house MPs Penny Sharpe and Daniel Mookhey,who led the inquiry.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns with senior Labor upper house MPs Penny Sharpe and Daniel Mookhey,who led the inquiry.Edwina Pickles

West’s offer was rescinded before Barilaro later applied and was appointed to the post,months after his resignation from politics. The committee found West was treated unfairly,unprofessionally and that the recruitment of all trade commissioner roles had been flawed.

The committee made five key findings about the public service recruitment,including that Barilaro’s appointment had “all the trademarks of a ‘job for the boys’ position”.

It said it was unacceptable Barilaro was offered the role and that contract negotiations with him had concluded before panel members were asked to sign off the final selection report.

The inquiry also found then minister Ayres showed inappropriate and poor judgment in discussing the New York role with Barilaro and former department secretary Amy Brown,and that he did not remain at arm’s length during the recruitment.

“It is a matter for the Legislative Assembly as to whether former Minister Ayres misled the parliament,” the report said.

Perrottet on Monday said he would pay no regard to the findings of “a political committee”.

“As premier,I instigated an independent review by a former inspector of the ICAC,who cleared Ayres of any wrongdoing,” he said.

Labor leader Chris Minns said Barilaro’s appointment constituted “a deliberate scheme” on behalf of senior ministers to appoint a friend to a lucrative position.

“If it wasn’t for this committee,John Barilaro would be in New York City right now and Stuart Ayres would be sitting inside the NSW cabinet,” he said.

An earlier review by former NSW public service commissioner Graeme Head last year also found the process was not conducted at arm’s length. Head recommended action against Brown,who was sacked in September.

Barilaro quit the role amid overwhelming public scrutiny in June last year,saying he believed his appointment would continue to be a distraction from the role,which remains vacant today.

Barilaro did not respond to a request for comment.

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Lucy Cormack is a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age,based in Dubai.

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