“If I had my time again,I would have asked him not to,” the premier said on Tuesday.
“If everyone knew what they knew now about the process,I mean,the whole situation has been incredibly disappointing for everybody who has been involved”.
Perrottet also confirmed the unanimous election of Treasurer Matt Kean as his new deputy leader,replacing Stuart Ayres who was forced to resign amid concerns about his role in the trade appointment saga.
It followed Barilaro’s first day of evidence on Monday to the parliamentary inquiry probing his appointment to the $500,000-a-year role based in New York.
The former deputy premier told the inquiry he first spoke to Perrottet about his plan to apply for the job one month after announcing his intention to resign last year,while he was still an MP. Barilaro said the premier responded:“Great.”
Perrottet on Tuesday said it was only a passing comment and “not a substantive discussion”,insisting he was not aware of the problems that have since emerged relating to the recruitment.