After weeks and weeks of Ayres insisting he played no role in the controversial Barilaro recruitment process,it is obvious that his protestations were far from accurate. That has cost Ayres his ministerial and leadership positions and will almost certainly see the government lose his marginal seat of Penrith in the March election.
The former New South Wales trade minister Stuart Ayres departs his property in Mulgoa.Sam Mooy
Documents handed to the parliament,evidence to an upper house inquiry and a draft report of an independent probe,of which Premier Dominic Perrottet was briefed on Tuesday night,make it abundantly clear that Ayres was closely involved in securing Barilaro the lucrative trade role in New York.
Perrottet was left with no option other than to haul in his senior minister to tell him that his position as deputy Liberal leader and a member of his cabinet was untenable. Concerns that Ayres may have breached the ministerial code of conduct meant Perrottet had to move swiftly,but it also ensures the fiasco drags on.
Only two nights earlier,Perrottet was forced to sack another of his ministers,Eleni Petinos,amid allegations of workplace bullying. By Wednesday,he was ordering yet another review,this time into Ayres’s conduct as a minister. It has been a horror week for the premier. In fact,as he pointed out,it’s been a horror year.
Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the resignation of Ayres.Rhett Wyman
Perrottet rattled off a shopping list of disasters that has plagued his government since he became premier - which includes a former minister accused of sexual assault and another found corrupt. Perrottet used the list to argue he has been decisive in removing bad eggs. Instead,it just served to highlight the rot in his government.
As premier,he has at times taken strong stances,but usually with forces outside his government. His determination to stand up to NRL kingmaker Peter V’landys over demands for funding for suburban stadiums showed a steely resolve. But Perrottet has been too slow to act in the trade scandal.
His Liberal colleagues are worried. They say Ayres has made it clear that if this saga caused his downfall,he would not go down alone. The premier would join him. Hell hath no fury like a minister scorned.
Ayres’ apparent threats may well be nothing more than tough talk from a minister fighting for his survival. But,if not,it could spell more disaster for Perrottet.
Perrottet put his complete faith in his most senior Liberal minister,even in the face of damning evidence. While everyone else abandoned him,Perrottet was the only member of the government prepared to publicly endorse Ayres. For his trouble,Perrottet has been left with a further damaged government that will never shake the perception that it dishes out jobs for mates.
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