Text messages tabled in the inquiry into former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro’s US trade appointment have revealed the reactions of media advisers and senior public servants. With more revelations rolling in every day, here are a few key exchanges to catch you up.
The bare bones
In November 2020 Barilaro, then trade minister, announced the creation of five senior trade and investment commissioners. By August 2021 Investment NSW was readying a press release on the successful candidates but in September, emails show, the agency’s general counsel began investigating whether the commissioners could be employed via ministerial appointments. By October Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown emailed the recruiter involved in the process to say she had “confirmed instructions” to prepare legislation to convert the commissioners to statutory offices, “i.e. ministerial appointments” and the New York post would be handled as an “internal matter”. The next day Barilaro announced his intention to leave politics. Six months later he was appointed to the role.
May 6
On May 6 this year Brown messaged Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter to let him know she had the go-ahead from Premier Dominic Perrottet to give Barilaro the job.
“FYI — I’ve been told that premier and DP are comfortable with the appointment of Barilaro as STIC to the Americas, and requested to get on with formalising the arrangements,” Brown wrote.
“Righto,” Coutts-Trotter replied.
Brown gave evidence at the inquiry last week about a conversation with Coutts-Trotter in April that preceded this text exchange. She had expressed her nervousness about Barilaro’s potential appointment to Coutts-Trotter and when she suggested he talk to the premier about it, she claims he said “leave it with me” but later seemed “resigned” to it going ahead.
May 23
Investment NSW managing director Kylie Bell texted Barilaro to congratulate him on securing the job.
“Dear [Deputy Premier] this is Kylie Bell. Texting to say congrats and we’re thrilled you are our [senior trade and investment commissioner] for Americas. Checking if there is a time I can call with our HR team to get out a contract organised [sic] and get cracking. Cheers KB,” Bell wrote.
“Thank you Kylie,” Barilaro responded. “Just give me a time that works and I’ll work around it. John.”
June 17
Investment NSW media director Kristoff Clark pinged fellow media director Sophie Hull for some preemptive damage control following the announcement of Barilaro’s appointment.
“Any aggro from anyone?” Clark asked.
“A little but it has settled,” Hull replied.
“Wonder who Yoni heard from,” Clark added.
“Not sure who told Yoni. Probably Barra himself,” Hull replied with a rolling-eye emoji.
The pair seem to be referencing The Australian’s Yoni Bashan who the day before had reported Barilaro was “on the move” after resigning from a very briefly held position with Sydney property developer Coronation Property.
June 20
Brown messaged a collegial group chat, which included Coutts-Trotter and deputy secretary for community engagement at the Department of Premier and Cabinet Kate Meagher. Brown shared a Sydney Morning Herald story on the inquiry to kickstart the text exchange.
“This isn’t great,” Brown wrote, synthesizing the gist of the article into a pithy three words.
“No, but utterly predictable,” Coutts-Trotter replied.
“We should talk it through once I’ve pulled everything together. Technically it was my decision,” said Brown.
“Happy to help Amy,” Meagher replied.
There was consensus from Coutts-Trotter: “Of course.”
How much it was Brown’s decision has been the subject of questioning in the parliamentary inquiry. She has conceded Barilaro’s appointment was not done “at arm’s length” from the government, particularly from resigned trade minister Stuart Ayres, although she agreed with Ayres that Barilaro was a strong candidate.
Brown has said it was “customary with high-profile roles” to seek informal opinions from the responsible minister.
She told the inquiry: “Any conversations I had with minister Ayres was therefore to a degree influential on my decision but, in my view, it did not amount to undue influence because I, at all times, felt the decision was ultimately mine to make.”
Technically, anyway.
Crikey is committed to hosting lively discussions. Help us keep the conversation useful, interesting and welcoming. We aim to publish comments quickly in the interest of promoting robust conversation, but we’re a small team and we deploy filters to protect against legal risk. Occasionally your comment may be held up while we review, but we’re working as fast as we can to keep the conversation rolling.
The Crikey comment section is members-only content. Please subscribe to leave a comment.
The Crikey comment section is members-only content. Please login to leave a comment.