Barilaro opts out of job, but Perrottet’s problems remain

Congratulations to former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro for finally working out what was obvious the moment news of his appointment to a New York trade post was snuck out with the garbage on a Friday two weeks ago — that it was utterly untenable and only going to do harm to the NSW government.

Just how much harm wasn’t apparent at the time. It turned out to be a lot, for a government that is struggling to fight off Chris Minns and a Labor opposition that appears to have found its feet, if not a shred of credible policy, after a decade in the wilderness.

But Dominic Perrottet’s bigger problems are internal. He was clearly badly briefed about the appointment and proceeded to mislead people by claiming no suitable candidate had been found and there was no ministerial involvement. Both were untrue. What else isn’t the premier being told, or is being misinformed about? What steps is his office taking to make sure he’s not left dangling like that again?

And central to the whole issue — why did no one twig that this was politically toxic? Or did Perrottet, having learnt Barilaro wanted the job, decide that he couldn’t possibly interfere in the sanctity of a Public Service appointment, no matter what grief it might send his way? It would be an unusual political leader who took such a passive view. The sensible response was to make clear to Barilaro that he shouldn’t be in the business of pursuing $487,000-a-year gigs that he himself had created.

Perrottet and Treasurer Matt Kean have worked hard to turn the issue of the age of this government — 12 years next year — into one of rejuvenation and fresh ideas. Policy innovation and big-brush reform have returned to Macquarie St. But Barilaro was always a reminder of a previous era, one of pork-barrelling and political cynicism, even before he become the cover photo in the 2022 Jobs For Mates calendar.

Perrottet has had strong moments as premier. He stood up for the NSW ICAC against Scott Morrison’s disgusting attacks, and has vowed to end pork-barrelling. He was upfront about the government’s huge failings on the northern NSW floods and apologised to residents, repeatedly visiting the area. He has worked as treasurer and premier with Kean to deliver strong action on renewables. He was right to allow Kean to go hard with what could be the government’s last budget, rather than adopt caution. But there’s a sense of a political tin ear and a tendency to stare at oncoming political events like a rabbit in headlights, rather than getting on the front foot. He played catch-up all along with the Barilaro appointment, and never got close to shutting it down.

Unlike the Morrison government, the NSW coalition government has a substantial record of achievement and reform and is continuing to deliver. But it faces being kicked out all the same. The past two weeks have been a great demonstration of how to guarantee that happens.