John Barilaro withdraws from New York trade role due to ‘media attention’

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has withdrawn from his position as a New York trade commissioner, while maintaining he followed due process. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

John Barilaro has stood down from a $500,000-a-year New York trade job to which he was controversially appointed.

A day after the first sitting of an upper house inquiry into the appointment, Barilaro announced late on Thursday that he was withdrawing from the job, saying his position had become untenable after intense media scrutiny.