“Throughout my 20-year career as an entrepreneur in a competitive and ever-changing environment, I have evolved into a results- and solutions-focused leader,” he wrote.
“My extensive business and government experience, and complex understanding of new state and federal business policies and opportunities, places me in a unique position to deliver beyond expectations in this role.”
Barilaro’s business, Ryleho Home Solutions, manufactured timber doors and windows in Queanbeyan, a regional center bordering the ACT. What it calls “a multi-billion dollar operation” and “industry leader” employed 35 people and went into administration in 2019.
“My Bold Vision”
Barilaro gave up his full-time business career in 2011 when he was elected to the seat of Monaro by the National Party. In 2019, he was given the trade portfolio and decided to hire trade commissioners to help foreign companies wanting to invest in NSW find their way through state bureaucracy and NSW companies expand into North America and the south
He told the selection panel, which included a former subordinate, Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown, that his decision to create the jobs was a qualification for the one in New York City.
“Where I believe I am unique above all the other candidates is that, as NSW Minister for Trade and Industry, my bold vision was to grow NSW’s international footprint, expand markets and grow inward investment, delivering Global NSW, a government-wide initiative to support the state’s outstanding industry development, innovation, trade, investment and industry,” he wrote.
Barilaro did not provide any examples of companies he had helped invest in NSW or overseas, other than his own. His higher education qualification was listed as a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership at Churchill Education, followed by the words ‘currently in progress’.
The opposition is conducting a parliamentary inquiry to determine whether Barilaro’s appointment was due to government favoritism. Faced with the political controversy, Barilaro has decided not to take up the position.
His successor as trade minister, Stuart Ayres, says Barilaro was treated like any other candidate, although he admits he texted his former colleague the job ad, which appeared in The Australian Financial Review in December, saving Barilaro the cost of the paper.