The publication of the first selection report for the $500,000-a-year New York trade post – dated March 25 – reveals the panel recommended a candidate,whose name is redacted,ahead of Barilaro for the job.
In its assessment,the panel said it “came to the view that John did have some of the relevant capabilities and experience for the role”.
“However,he had not worked internationally in a role aligned to the experience expected for high level[Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner] candidates … His lack of business development networks would mean that he would have a considerable learning curve in the role.”
The report stated that Barilaro “exceeds” capabilities on two metrics and “meets” capabilities on the remaining two – a lesser result than the preferred candidate who exceeded on all four metrics.
But Barilaro was sent a draft employment agreement for the role on May 24 and signed his contract on June 9.
A day after he signed,Investment NSW asked the recruitment firm for an “updated panel report following John now being preferred”. The recruitment firm sent a new version of the report to the selection panel on June 15 and requested their approval by the end of the day.
That report had significantly edited Barilaro’s assessment to say he “exceeds” on three of four categories,and nominated him as the preferred candidate. It downgraded the assessment of the preferred candidate and relegated them to the talent pool.
The new report said the panel decided Barilaro “had the right motivation,capabilities and experience for the role” following a review of references that included the Australian ambassador to the US and former Liberal MP Arthur Sinodinos.
It also omitted prior criticisms of the former deputy premier. “While he has not lived internationally,he has successfully developed international businesses in both his roles,” the final version said.
“While he would have a learning curve on doing business in the US,he had a strong track record of building teams as well as operating in a dynamic environment and had deep understanding of the NSW Trade and Investment environment.”
How the reports were changed
March 25 report:He had not worked internationally in a role aligned to the experience expected for high level[Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner] candidates
June 15 report:While he has not lived internationally,he has successfully developed international businesses in both his roles
March 25 report:His lack of business development networks would mean that he would have a considerable learning curve in the role
June 15 report:While he would have a learning curve on doing business in the US,he had a strong track record of building teams as well as operating in a dynamic environment and had deep understanding of the NSW Trade and Investment environment
Brown signed Barilaro’s contract on June 16,and his appointment was announced at 4pm on Friday,June 17.
Batting away mounting pressure,Ayres on Monday said Brown had sought to change the selection panel report with the recruitment company because she did not believe the first version was accurate.
“I understood that she emailed them almost instantly … to inform them to say that she did not believe that was an accurate representation and asked for that to be adjusted … That’s a decision for her,” he said.
“I do not have the power to direct the CEO of Investment NSW on who they employ as senior executive officers.”
Labor’s treasury spokesman Daniel Mookhey said the documents were damning.
“It’s unheard of that you would change a selection panel report,and it certainly leaves the impression that the report was changed to retrospectively justify the decision to hire John Barilaro,” he said.
“That stark warning telling everybody that John Barilaro wasn’t up for the job is taken out of the final report. The criticisms are deleted,and the praise is elevated,and we need to know why.”
The premier on Monday said he was not prepared to discuss the matter until he received an independent review from former public service commissioner Graeme Head.
The documents have been made public amid an ongoing upper house inquiry examining the decision to appoint Barilaro as US trade commissioner.
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Barilaro declined to comment and has since withdrawn from the role,conceding that his appointmentwas a “distraction” and untenable.He is scheduled to front the inquiry on August 8 and 12,book-ending the first parliamentary sitting week after the winter break.
Brown is due to appear for a second time on Wednesday.
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