The NSW upper house will conduct an investigation into a New York publication delivered to former Deputy Prime Minister John Barilaro amid outrage from Liberal MPs over the election of Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet.
Barilaro was named top $ 500,000 a year trade commissioner in the Americas on Friday afternoon, a move that has angered Perrottet’s colleagues, including ministers.
A parliamentary inquiry will be held into the appointment of Dominic Perrottet as Deputy Prime Minister John Barilaro to a US trade post. Credit: Rhett Wyman
The post, which did not go to the cabinet, was created by Barilaro when he was Minister of Commerce.
Several ministers have confirmed to the Herald that the post was not considered by the cabinet, and two insisted that if it had been presented to the ministers, they would have blocked the appointment.
Backbenchers are also furious with the move, with one describing it as “dating appointments”.
However, Perrottet has defended the nomination, saying Barilaro emerged as the best candidate in a global recruitment process, at a cost to the government of $ 18,150.
“I am not surprised that the independent process that took place made him by far the most prominent candidate and was recommended by this group to the government,” Perrottet said on Saturday.
“I’m sure it will do a brilliant job, not only because it would probably help with the architecture of the creation of Global NSW, but also because of its strong defense of the regional NSW and our state because of the economic portfolios it has.”
The former NSW Nationals leader threatened to blow up the Coalition in September 2020 over a coalition planning policy. The problem was resolved and Barilaro did not continue with his threats to bring his party to the bench, but tensions remained between the Liberals and the Nationals.