John Barilaro received plum New York trade job after senior public servant had already been offered it

NSW opposition parties want an inquiry into the appointment of former premier John Barilaro as the state’s senior trade commissioner in New York. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

The New South Wales government offered a plum trade commissioner job to a senior public servant with a stellar résumé, only to rescind the offer and later appoint the former deputy premier John Barilaro after readvertising the $500,000-a-year role.

Barliaro’s New York appointment was not signed off by cabinet, even though it had overseen a series of identical appointments to other cities.