Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Farid Farid

Barilaro docs should be supplied: premier

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's trade mission to Japan hasn't let him escape domestic issues. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

As a parliamentary inquiry continues into the appointment of NSW's former Nationals leader to a lucrative New York trade post, Premier Dominic Perrottet maintains his government is transparent.

Ex-deputy premier John Barilaro's post-parliamentary career move to the Big Apple has been scuppered as questions continue to be asked of the state's Liberal-Nationals coalition about the appointment.

Upper house MPs are using standing Order 52 to compel the coalition government to hand over documents relevant to the appointment process for the post.

"My view is that any document (to the inquiry) that should be legally provided needs to be provided as quickly as possible," Mr Perrottet told reporters in Tokyo, while on a 10-day trade mission to Asia.

"Dates are set and they should be met.

"There's a whole lot of SO-52 (standing orders) that have been issued and my expectation is they should be complied with."

The premier's trade mission has been overshadowed by more claims of nepotism and favouritism emerging from the upper house inquiry into Mr Barilaro's selection for the plum role of Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas.

Mr Perrottet opened the office for the state's North Asia Trade Commissioner last week in Tokyo.

The upper house committee previously heard evidence from Mr Barilaro's former chief-of-staff Mark Connell that the former deputy premier eyed the $500,000 taxpayer-funded job more than three years ago and planned to take up the role when he left politics.

Mr Connell said Mr Barilaro told him in April 2019 that the government planned to bring back a number of overseas trade postings, and he was "off to New York".

Mr Barilaro disputed his former chief of staff's account, describing the conversation as "fictitious, false".

A separate Department of Premier and Cabinet review, initiated by Mr Perrottet, is also looking at the propriety of Mr Barilaro's appointment.

"I have to receive the report, review it, reflect on it and then adopt recommendations," the premier said.

Speaking at Ryu-Q Kan, one of the world's largest underground drainage channels on the outskirts of Tokyo, the premier maintained his government was transparent.

"I will always err on the side of supporting independent processes," he said.

Labor finance spokesman David Mookhey has said he looks forward to Mr Barilaro eventually being called to appear before the inquiry.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.