The application that won John Barilaro a plum trade posting in New York was littered with typos and other basic errors, newly released documents show.
The former NSW deputy premier stood down from the $500,000-a-year posting last month following a severe backlash over his controversial appointment.
A parliamentary inquiry is now under way to determine why Mr Barilaro was handed the cushy job ahead of another top public servant, Jenny West – who was allegedly offered the role before the selection panel changed its decision.
A parliamentary inquiry is now under way to determine why Mr Barilaro was handed the job
The first sentence of John Barilaro’s application for the New York trade job has a misplaced apostrophe
In the first sentence of his application, Mr Barilaro wrongly inserts an apostrophe to spell ‘Americas’, while his invitation to ‘chat further in how’ he is the best candidate for the role would better read ‘chat further about how’.
He later misspells ‘net zero emissions’ by using a double ‘t’ for ‘net’ and boasts about achieving ’50/50 quality’ (equality) for women.
Another achievement he lists is getting ‘complimentary’ – which means flattering or given free of charge – rather than complementary (adding to or enhancing) funding for projects.
There are numerous ungrammatical sentences such as ‘utilising my rare diplomacy skills open doors’ and misplaced capitals for words such as ‘states’.
In the work history section he lists himself as deputy premier ‘until present’, which was not the case when he sent the application.
The mistake-ridden application adds another level of embarrassment to the deepening scandal engulfing Mr Barilaro and the state Liberal Party.
An email between a senior public servant Amy Brown (pictured) and the New South Wales Trade Minister threatens to blow away previous claims the NSW government weren’t involved in the appointment of Mr Barilaro to a cushy job in New York
The application that won former John Barilaro a plum trade posting in New York was littered with typos and other basic errors, newly released documents show
Stuart Ayres was forced to deny allegations that as trade minister he had a hand in appointing Mr Barilaro as the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas.
The Minister for Western Sydney claimed the only person who had the power to make the trade appointment was the CEO of Investment NSW Amy Brown.
Mr Ayres added in a press conference on Monday he had only texted a copy of the job advertisement to Mr Barilaro after it had already been placed in the Australian Financial Review.
But an email from Ms Brown to a colleague revealed Mr Ayres had reviewed and added a name to the short-list for the New York posting.
‘Min (Minister) Ayres and I have run through the “long” shortlist and our recommended “short” shortlist for NYC,’ the email read.
‘He’d like to add (redacted name) to the short shortlist please.’
NSW Trade Minister and Liberal Deputy Leader Stuart Ayres is facing pressure to stand down over the Barilaro New York job scandal
The inquiry previously heard Mr Barilaro had stated he’d get ‘them’ to put an office in New York – ‘that’s where I’m off to’, he reportedly said
Mr Ayres has so far maintained hiring procedures were conducted at ‘arm’s length’ from the government.
‘The selections of our Senior Trade and Investment Commissioners (STICs) appointed in India, Japan, Singapore and China, were conducted in accordance with the GSEA,’ Mr Ayres wrote on Facebook.
‘It was an independent, transparent and meritorious selection process and the same process was used for the STIC – Americas role.
‘Not liking Mr Barilaro or his style of politics is not a suitable reason to reject his application, let alone not select him for the role.’
He admitted to having ‘discussions’ with Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown but said he never influenced her decision making on who should be selected.
Senior public servant Jenny West (pictured) had her dream role in America stripped from her
The email (mock-up pictured) seems to imply trade minister Stuart Ayres was consulted in the hiring process of the American commissioner role, despite previous claims the government was kept at arm’s length from the hiring process
‘The discussion was about people that were already on the list,’ he said.
‘It wasn’t a request from me, it was merely a discussion that took place in the office about the people that were on the short list.
‘The decision on who goes onto that short list is not for me.’
He insisted he would not step aside as Deputy Liberal Leader despite mounting pressure.
Labor accused Mr Ayres of lying after he said he did not meet with Mr Barilaro during the recruitment process and had maintained his distance.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and his ministers have insisted hiring for the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas role was a matter purely decided by the public service.
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