‘Do the honourable thing’: NSW minister tells John Barilaro to withdraw from New York job

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro sent Stuart Ayres a text message asking about the New York trade role, Ayres says. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

It’s been revealed John Barilaro contacted the New South Wales deputy Liberal party leader, Stuart Ayres, to inquire about “the status” of a $500,000 New York trade commissioner job prior to it being publicly advertised, as pressure grows on the former deputy premier to withdraw from the role.

On Thursday, the NSW transport minister, David Elliott, broke ranks and called for Barilaro to “do the honourable thing” and quit of his own accord.