A senior government lawyer has refuted claims Jenny West was ever formally offered a US trade role | LucyCormack
A senior government lawyer has rejected claims Jenny West was ever formally offered a US trade role, insisting the former bureaucrat was treated fairly and describing her evidence to an inquiry as incorrect.
Former general counsel of Investment NSW Chris Carr giving evidence at the parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday.Carr told the hearing he recalled consoling an upset West and offering words of comfort during a phone call last year, after she learned a verbal offer was being rescinded. West at the time made a file note of the phone call,Carr told the inquiry he was trying to speak with West “on a human level”, but said “horrified” was not a word he would have used.
The role – one of six lucrative overseas roles – is meant to be a public service appointment at arm’s length from government. However, it has emerged that as deputy premier, Barilaro attempted to have the positions changed to ministerial appointments. Despite advice being deliberated, the conversion never took place.Carr, who is now general counsel of the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade, was pushed to outline his role in advising on the proposed conversion.
“I did find myself repeating myself to say that these are public servants appointments, they’re not to be cabinet appointments.” Earlier, Carr disputed evidence West gave when she faced the inquiry last week, including that she had been offered the $500,000-a-year job.
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