“Stuart hasn’t just made a contribution to his local community and improved it for families across western Sydney,he has made a significant contribution to the whole state of NSW,” he said.
The premier’s office refused to answer questions from theHerald about Ayres’ possible return to cabinet when asked on Monday.
Ayres has languished on the government’s backbench since resigning as the minister for trade,tourism and sport and western Sydney,after a review raised questions about whether he remained at arm’s length from the controversial US trade post or if he breached the ministerial code of conduct.
He was subsequently cleared of wrongdoing in a review by high-profile barrister Bruce McClintock,SC,in September,which Ayres declared as an “emphatic exoneration” that found he acted lawfully and honestly.
“On Mr Head’s specific findings,Mr Ayres acted honestly and in what he considered to be the public interest and therefore there is no breach[of the code of conduct],” McClintock wrote.
He has remained in parliament as the member for Penrith,which he holds on a wafer-thin margin less than nine weeks out from the crucial March election.