“Labor’s focused on politics,I’m focused on fixing problems,and this is a political committee. That’s what it is. As premier I instigated an independent review by a former inspector of the ICAC,who cleared Ayres of any wrongdoing.”
The committee made five key findings about the public service recruitment process,including that Barilaro’s appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas had “all the trademarks of a ‘job for the boys’ position”.
It also found then minister Ayres showed inappropriate and poor judgment in discussing the New York role with Barilaro after his resignation from politics 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.
“Despite assurances from senior public servants and ministers that the appointment process was conducted by the public service under a merit-based process,it is clear that the process was flawed and that the executive was not at arm’s length from the process.”
An earlier independent review by former NSW public service commissioner Graeme Head last year also found the process was not conducted at arm’s length from government. Head recommended action be taken against the former department secretary responsible for Barilaro’s appointment,Amy Brown,who was sacked in September.
Loading
The crisis also claimed the ministerial scalp of Ayres,who was forced to resign last year before he was later cleared of wrongdoing in a separate review. Ayres has been told Perrottet will reinstate him to cabinet after the election,if the Coalition claims victory.
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 important role.
“It is clear that my taking up this role is now not tenable with the amount of media attention this appointment has gained,” he said at the time.
“I stress that I have always maintained that I followed the process and look forward to the results of the review.”
The position of trade commissioner to the Americas remains vacant.
While the upper house inquiry was triggered by Barilaro’s appointment to the US,its scope was widened to examine the appointment of UK agent-general Stephen Cartwright.
A final report focusing on the key issues related to Cartwright’s appointment to London will be tabled at the end of February.
Monday’s interim report comes just days after an investigation foundan intervention by Barilaro’s office in 2020 diverted funding for a $100 million bushfire recovery program away from Labor-held electorates. That report has been sent to the corruption watchdog by both the government and NSW Labor leader Chris Minns.
Barilaro and Ayres have both been contacted for comment.
More to come
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up here.