In the days before John Barilaro announced his plans to leave politics, emails show that bureaucrats were discussing changing the rules for hiring new trade commissioners, and then decided that the role of the US would be dealt with. ” as an internal matter “.
Key points:
- John Barilaro was appointed US Trade Commissioner last week
- Investment NSW was asked to turn the post of High Commissioner for Trade and Investment into ministerial appointments
- Dominic Perrottet has pledged to review the appointment of Mr. Fence
The former NSW Deputy Prime Minister was appointed last week as the state’s new chief trade and investment commissioner (STIC) in the Americas, based in New York, a job that includes a salary package in excess of 500,000. dollars.
Documents obtained through parliament show that there was a previous round of recruitment, in which two candidates were highly valued, but the post was re-announced in December.
The emails in these documents reveal that in early September, Investment NSW had identified a preferred candidate and a draft contract was being prepared, with a view to it starting in October.
But on 21 September, NSW’s Chief Investment Officer wrote to the Director of People and Culture, telling him that a problem had arisen over the employment of various STIC roles under the sector’s employment law. government.
“We are now being asked to consider whether there are alternative methods that could be used for STICs,” he wrote.
“Specifically, we have been asked if there is an option for ministerial appointments.”
Ten days later, on October 1, the same day that Gladys Berejiklian announced her resignation as Prime Minister, NSW Investment CEO Amy Brown sent another email to several colleges. · Leagues.
“FYl – Amy will talk to Marianne [Broadbent from the recruitment firm]but it goes without saying that there is no more STIC with the appointment of which Investment will participate now, so there is no need for lists / tables, etc. “
Two days later, Mrs. Brown sent an e-mail to Dr. Broadbent.
“I appreciate you keeping this confidential, but we have now had confirmed instructions to begin preparing legislation to turn the world’s top trade and investment commissioners into statutory officials (i.e. ministerial appointments),” he said.
“The London General Agent and the Tokyo STIC will move on to the new agreements. This means that the recruitment process for STIC positions in Singapore, India / Middle East and China will have to be stopped. and all the candidates reported that we will not go any further with the process.
“We will handle STIC New York’s position as an internal matter.”
Barilaro announced his intention to leave politics the next day.
The ABC sent detailed questions to both Investment NSW and Commerce Minister Stuart Ayres’ office asking why the department had been asked to turn the functions into ministerial appointments and by whom.
“The functions of senior trade and investment commissioner are not statutory functions, they are public service functions established under the Government Sector Employment Act and regulations and are employed by Investment NSW,” an Investment spokesman said. NSW in a statement.
An NSW government spokesman said in a statement that the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet will review the recruitment process.
“It is not appropriate to comment further on the matter at this time,” the statement said.
“The review will be made public as soon as it is received.”
Barilaro resubmitted ABC to Investment NSW. The ABC has also sent questions to Treasurer Matt Kean’s office, as well as to former Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian.
On Wednesday, a motion was passed in the upper house asking the government to delay the appointment until a parliamentary inquiry into the appointment is reported in a few weeks.
The MLC of the Greens, Cate Faehrmann, who chairs the committee that will investigate the appointment of Mr. Barilaro said there were serious questions to answer.
“It looks like there was a top-down intervention to address a political issue. And that was John Barilaro,” he said.
“What we need to know now, though, is who in the current government knew what: what did the prime minister know and what did the treasurer know?”
This committee will meet tonight to decide the terms of reference and hearings, but could call witnesses next week.
Dominic Perrottet has pledged to make public the findings of the review of Mr. Fence. (ABC News)
Today, Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet announced that he had asked the Secretary of the Premier and Cabinet Department to do a review.
“He will provide me with this report, review it and make it public,” he said.
During question time, Mr. Perrottet said the six STIC charges did not need to be approved by the cabinet, but two had gone to the cabinet by mistake.
“It is not necessary or appropriate for these appointments to be approved by the cabinet, as the positions are senior executive positions appointed by the CEO following a merit selection process,” he said.
“The approval of the Cabinet would have posed risks in terms of actual or perceived non-compliance with the principle of merit of the 2013 GSE Act.
“Given these factors, the advice we have received, Mr President, is that the Cabinet could not intervene in this process.”
Posted 1 hour 1 hour ago Thu, June 23, 2022 at 8:20 AM, updated 29 m ago, 29 minutes ago, Thu, June 23, 2022 at 9:40 AM