NSW's UK Agent-General has told an inquiry his appointment wasn't a case of "jobs for the boys" despite former deputy premier John Barilaro referring him for the position after a coffee meeting.
Stephen Cartwright is one of the state's highest-paying public servants and today gave evidence at the Upper House inquiry into the selection of NSW's Senior Trade and Investment Commissioners (STICs), who have postings in various regions including India, China and the Middle East.
The inquiry initially focused on Mr Barilaro's appointment as the US STIC, a position from which he later withdrew, but was later broadened to investigate all STICs and the UK Agent-General.
Mr Cartwright was a late entrant in the recruitment process after Mr Barilaro encouraged him to apply for the lucrative job.
Today the inquiry heard that on February 17, 2021 during a coffee meeting over an unrelated matter, Mr Barilaro asked Mr Cartwright if he might be interested in the Agent-General role and enquired about his pay package at his previous job.
Mr Cartwright said he was taken by "complete surprise" by the suggestion and when Mr Barilaro left the meeting he said something to the effect of "you come back and tell us how it can be made to work for you".
The next day, Mr Cartwright met with Mr Barilaro in his parliament house office to say he would like to apply for the role.
"[Mr Barilaro] said he would immediately let the external recruiter know of my interest," Mr Cartwright said.
"He said he wouldn't have anything further to do with this."
The former CEO of the NSW business chamber said Mr Barilaro never indicated the external recruitment panel hired by the government to appoint the Agent-General had already selected their final preferred candidate, Paul Webster.
"Everything going on in the background wasn't known to me," he said.
In an email written six weeks after the meeting, Mr Cartwright said Mr Barilaro had indicated he and then treasurer Dominic Perrottet had "an agreement" that the cost of accommodation in London could be taken care of by the NSW government.
Mr Cartwright went on to be offered the job with a base salary of $600,000 plus rent costs covered.
Opposition treasurer Daniel Moohkey, who questioned Mr Cartwright today, said Labor had now asked the Premier to make an appearance at the inquiry in late November.
"The evidence that's in front of us shows quite clearly the only reason why Stephen Cartwright got this job is because he was John Barilaro's pick and apparently with the … agreement of Mr Perrottet when he was treasurer."
"Mr Perrottet does have serious questions to answer here."
The Premier has previously been adamant he had nothing to do with the recruitment of the Agent-General position.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who is the chairman of the public accountability committee running the inquiry, argued this was a "classic example of jobs for the boys".
Mr Cartwright said he was offended by such an assertion.
"I find it totally unacceptable to categorise my appointment to this role as somehow tainted …" he told the inquiry.
"Given my background, I don't think there's any way that my appointment can be categorised as jobs for mates because I don't have any politicians that are mates, I've never been part of any political party.
"I totally reject that assertion, in fact I'm offended by it."
Mr Cartwright, who also met with the NSW Treasury Secretary Michael Pratt before being considered by the job panel, said he struggled to understand any perception of special treatment.
"My employment background, successful business history, international trade experience and strong commitment to NSW are in my view the reasons my selection by the independent panel as the successful candidate for the UK Agent-General role," he said.
Complicated pay negotiations followed the job offer, with Investment NSW offering a second package that did not include any extras such as accommodation.
Mr Cartwright said at one point after living in a hotel for three months, he sent a message to then-trade minister Stuart Ayres asking for his help in getting rent support.
That financial support was later granted, but Mr Cartwright was adamant he didn't have personal friendships with any politicians and only contacted Mr Ayres because he had previously invited him to reach out if ever required.
The inquiry also examined emails sent in June this year by Mr Cartwright where he alluded to conversations with an unnamed minister about covering the school fees for his children.
Mr Cartwright denied having any conversations with a minister and said he was referring to information he had been given second hand.
