Mr Ayres said that in retrospect, he should have advised Mr Barilaro against applying for the role so quickly after leaving parliament.
“The one thing that I would absolutely do differently ... when John Barilaro asked me about this role, I should have told him that even though he’s a private citizen, and he can apply for the role ... it was probably not in his best interests or the state’s best interests to apply,” Ayres said.
Asked what he told Mr Stokes when he texted Mr Ayres last week, the MP said on Tuesday he: “responded with very similar messaging to what I’ve said today, that the advice that I’ve provided the House is consistent with the advice that was provided to me by the CEO of Investment NSW”. On Tuesday, Mr Ayres was adamant that he never influenced a decision to hire the former deputy premier and said he was confident about the results of an independent investigation into the appointment.
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