Perrottet insists it happened in error and the mistake was not repeated when Barilaro was appointed to the plum $500,000-a-year trade role in New York,which the former deputy premier created when he was trade minister.
As the controversy overshadowed the government’s efforts to sell its cash-splash budget,Perrottet earlier on Thursday announced he had directed the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Michael Coutts-Trotterto conduct a review into Barilaro’s appointment.
The review,which the premier vowed to make public,could give Perrottet the option to jettison the appointment,depending on what it uncovers. Perrottet has said he thinks Barilaro “will do a brilliant job” as trade commissioner.
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Under repeated questioning from Labor in question time on Thursday,the premier told parliament he had received advice from the government’s legal counsel that “there are six appointments,and there were two appointments that were submitted to cabinet”.
“The advice I’ve received is that was submitted to cabinet in error and the correct process was followed in relation to the subsequent four appointments,” Perrottet said.
Opposition Leader Chris Minns called the Barilaro appointment a farce,and said if he took up the New York posting a NSW Labor government would call him back from the US after the 2023 election.