Asked if he still had confidence in government processes to appoint Barilaro to a position he helped create as Commerce Minister, Kean said he would await the outcome of the independent investigation into the matter.
“I want the right processes to be followed when it comes to government appointments, this is what the investigation looks at and I will wait for the conclusions to be given,” he said.
In a statement Thursday afternoon announcing he would leave the commercial job, Barilaro said he believed his appointment would continue to be a distraction “and would not allow such an important role to achieve what was designed.”
“It is clear that taking on this role now is not sustainable with the amount of media attention that this appointment has earned,” he said.
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“I insist that I have always maintained that I have followed the process and look forward to the results of the review.”
Barilaro’s decision came after fierce criticism from his former colleagues, including Transport Minister David Elliott, who on Thursday said Barilaro should do the “honorable” thing and not take office.
NSW Investment Executive Director Amy Brown said in a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday that Barilaro would be entitled to one-week severance pay for the first three months of work if the post ended.
The government has consistently said that Brown, who led the first hearing of the upper house investigation, was the last decision maker responsible for appointing Barilaro to the post, which did not go to the cabinet.
Elliott thanked Barilaro on Friday for being left out of the commercial role, which he said was an important position.
“I can say, thank you John for doing the right thing, stepping aside and not moving on with the appointment,” he said.
NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said on Thursday that evidence was mounting that there had been “major politicization” of the trade commissioner’s appointment.
“Serious concerns remain about how he got the job and parliamentary inquiry will continue to haunt them.”
A spokesman for Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet said he would continue a separate review of Barilaro’s appointment as U.S. trade commissioner by former NSW public service commissioner Graeme Head.
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