New secret NSW government documents suggest another candidate was recommended ahead of John Barilaro at some point during the recruitment process for a lucrative New York-based commercial role.
Key Points:
- Two job selection panel documents show different scores for John Barilaro
- In one version, the former deputy prime minister stood behind another unnamed candidate
- The documents were previously secret, but the state government agreed to release them
There are discrepancies between two versions of the selection panel’s report, after four shortlisted candidates for the post of Trade Commissioner for the Americas were interviewed in March this year.
The appointment of Mr. Barilaro has been under the microscope for several weeks and is the subject of two separate parliamentary probes.
He has since stepped down from the $500,000-a-year position.
The reports were part of a batch of documents released today to a parliamentary inquiry looking into the appointment of Mr. Barilaro in the highly paid American position.
In one version, the former deputy prime minister is not the recommended candidate.
“The panel was of the view that John Barilaro had some of the relevant skills and experience for the role,” the report said.
“However, I had not worked internationally in a role aligned with the experience expected of a senior STIC candidate.”
He also raised concerns that he would “have to build a team without the business or departmental infrastructure that he had before.”
“His lack of business development networks would mean he would have a considerable learning curve in this role.”
In one of the documents, Mr. Barilaro ranks first. (Offered) In another, an unnamed candidate scored higher. (offered)
The person recommended for the job has their name redacted on the documents.
They got four successes in the selection process, while Mr. Barilaro got two overs and two overs.
But his assessment changed in the second report, in which he recorded three passes and a meet.
The change to overcome was in the selection criteria of “managing and developing people”.
In this report, Mr. Barilaro is the recommended candidate.
“Although he has not lived internationally, he has successfully developed international business both in his roles running his own company in the private sector and in his capacity as Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade of NSW,” says the report
“He had a strong track record of building teams and operating in a dynamic environment.”
Jenny West claims the government reneged on offering her the job. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
These two reports have been made public as part of dozens of documents that were handed over under a parliamentary order.
They were previously considered secret, but after pressure from the opposition the government agreed to make them public.
A parliamentary inquiry has previously heard from former bureaucrat Jenny West, who was listed as a “successful candidate” in government documents in mid-2021.
Ms West told the inquest she was told by Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown last October that she would no longer be offered the job because “it would be a gift to someone”.
“[Ms Brown said] ‘I have spoken to the minister [Stuart] Ayres who has taken over the Deputy Prime Minister’s portfolio and has confirmed that you will not get the role of America. It’s going to be a gift for someone,” West stated.
Ms Brown has denied that this conversation took place, and Mr Ayres has rejected suggestions he influenced the hiring process.
In her evidence to the inquest, Ms Brown confirmed that West had been “verbally offered the role”.
But, Ms Brown said, she was then given a government order to stop the recruitment process “due to a change in government policy to convert posts into ministerial-appointed statutory officers”.
“I would have come because the Minister responsible was the Minister of Industry and Trade… Mr John Barilaro,” he said.
Mr Barilaro is due to appear before the inquest on Monday.
Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet has also ordered a separate inquiry into the recruitment process for the post.