Fishing expedition: How Labor stumbled across the scandal that has rocked the Perrottet government | AlexSmithSMH
In many ways, the John Barilaro trade appointment saga is an accidental scandal. Upper house MP Daniel Mookhey, NSW Labor’s treasury expert, was on a fishing expedition when he sought documents outlining the recruitment process for the state’s six newly created senior trade and investment commissioners.
Rumours about former opposition leader Jodi McKay being considered for a trade role triggered Labor’s interest.At a COVID-19 press conference on September 1 last year, then premier Gladys Berejiklian was caught off guard when she was asked if the government had discussed the India trade role with McKay. Berejiklian hand balled the question to Barilaro, who was by her side.
After a late Friday afternoon announcement in June this year, which revealed Barilaro had snared the plum New York trade commissioner’s job, Minns was in his electorate of Kogarah with Mookhey for a budget-related press conference. The first witness the inquiry called was the bureaucrat responsible for appointing Barilaro, Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown. A parade of witnesses followed, including Jenny West – who was offered the New York role only to have that offer rescinded – and the public service commissioner Kathrina Lo, who was an independent member on Barilaro’s selection panel. Barilaro was also called.
However, Coalition committee member Nationals MP Wes Fang, is scathing of the inquiry. He says it was designed to destroy Barilaro and has not uncovered any wrongdoing.
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