Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has been temporarily blocked from taking up a taxpayer-funded job in New York City.
The government announced Mr Barilaro had been appointed the state's senior trade and investment commissioner to the Americas on Friday afternoon, a role the ex-Nationals leader created while trade minister.
Labor accused the government of giving out "jobs for mates" over the $500,000 appointment, and launched an upper house inquiry to investigate the process.