“If he had said that ... I would have said ‘OK,thank you’ and moved on with my life.
“I was a private sector individual who’d been invited to apply for a role ... and anything that was going on in the background was absolutely not known to me.”
‘I don’t think there’s any way that my appointment can be categorised as jobs for mates because I don’t have any politicians that are mates.’
Stephen Cartwright
Committee chair,Greens MP Cate Faehrmann,asked why it was so urgent for Cartwright to meet Barilaro the next day,rather than calling him.
“I think the urgency was probably more from my perspective because I was having other conversations about other opportunities ... I just felt that this was a conversation that should be had face to face,maybe I’m a little old-fashioned,” Cartwright said.
Faehrmann suggested the personal meetings had given Cartwright “some undue favour” and that it was a “classic example,really,of a jobs-for-the-boys scenario”.
To which Cartwright responded:“I don’t think there’s any way that my appointment can be categorised as jobs for mates because I don’t have any politicians that are mates. I’ve never been part of any political party. I’ve got this job because of my background,my experience and my capability,and I totally reject that assertion. In fact,I’m offended by it.”
He also batted away suggestions the appointment was “payback” for a Business NSW campaign against Labor’s payroll tax policy ahead of the 2019 state election.
The parliamentary inquiry into the government’s trade commissioner roles previously heard evidence from now-departed department secretary Amy Brownthat Cartwright expected an $800,000 salary, was “threatening”,and said he would escalate his demands to the premier.
But Cartwright disputed those claims on Wednesday. He said he informed Barilaro of his previous $800,000 salary during their initial coffee meeting,and that the former deputy premier told him the government was open to negotiating for a high-calibre candidate.
“I fear this is where this myth that somehow I was asking,requesting or demanding $800,000 a year that’s been splashed all over the media[comes from],” Cartwright said.
“I received an offer with a base of[$600,000] and substantial contributions of rent and substantial contribution to school fees. I didn’t ask for any of this. This is what was sent to me.”
He admitted to requesting his car be shipped from Sydney to London as part of his relocation arrangement,but insisted his demands were not “unusual” in the context of senior executive recruitment.
Cartwright also said he was not flouting his access to the premier. “It was basically saying:if you don’t have the authority to agree to some of these things,I’m happy to have the conversation with somebody in the authority chain who does,” he said.
But on one occasion,Cartwright contacted then-trade minister Stuart Ayres seeking to resolve his rental arrangements. While Cartwright said he did not hear back from Ayres personally,his issues were resolved afterwards.
Loading
Labor MP Daniel Mookhey said Labor had asked Premier Dominic Perrottet to appear before the committee later this month. Perrottet has denied the inquiry’s previous requests to give evidence.
Labor will also call Cartwright back to the inquiry in late November,Mookhey said.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up here.