The NSW authorities shortlisted candidates for the job of US trade commissioner in May final yr before readvertising the function and handing it to former deputy premier John Barilaro.
Key factors:
Former Deputy Premier John Barilaro was introduced as NSW Trade Commissioner to the US on Friday
Investment NSW says the appointment didn’t should go to cupboard
Emails show a shortlist was created before the place was readvertised, and that it was “protocol” for appointments to go to cupboard
On Friday it was introduced Mr Barilaro, who resigned from parliament in October final yr, can be the state’s trade commissioner for the US, based mostly in New York.
Mr Barilaro had introduced the creation of 5 NSW senior trade and funding commissioners (STIC) in November 2020, because the then trade minister.
A parliamentary inquiry is ready to look into the choice to nominate him to the US function.
In a press release, an Investment NSW spokesperson mentioned Mr Barilaro’s appointment “followed a lengthy and competitive global search process”.
“Candidates were shortlisted and assessed on a range of measures including suitability for the role, qualifications, skills and experience,” the assertion mentioned.
“As with other recent STIC recruitment, this appointment was not required to go to cabinet for approval.”
But paperwork obtained by NSW Labor state that the appointments were purported to be put to cupboard.
They additionally show the shortlist for the Americas function was despatched to senior bureaucrats in May 2021, however whereas recruitment for different roles progressed, the New York job was readvertised on the finish of the yr.
