John Barilaro has returned to politics after being hired as a part-time adviser to Nationals senator Ross Cadell.
The Hunter region backbencher said he and Mr Barilaro had worked together, and delivered for the region, during his tenure as the deputy NSW premier while Senator Cadell's served as the party's state director between 2018 and 2019.
He said he had approached Mr Barilaro for his experience, and hoped to glean policy and community engagement advice going into the next NSW election in March 2027.
Senator Cadell said the role was loosely defined, and described it as a "favour" to join in a largely ad hoc capacity. He added that he did not expect the job indicated a more committed return to politics for the former leader.
"I would say, if anything, this is a favour to me," Senator Cadell said.
"He couldn't do more because he has some other things going on, and I respect that. I asked him for some of his counsel and some of his experience. He is prepared to give that a bit of time."
"It's hard to describe the absolute role. I just wanted to use his experience both in policy and with stakeholders."
Mr Barilaro quit politics in October 2021, only days after former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, and during a corruption inquiry.
He has maintained that his decision to leave was on personal grounds, and followed a stint of intense public scrutiny amid an exodus of high-profile state politicians, bitter infighting with the Nationals' Liberal coalition partners over koala policy, and the fallout from a defamation stoush with comedian Jordan Shanks, known online as Friendly Jordies.
He left public office after leading the Nationals in NSW for almost five years and said at the time that he would be a "keen watcher, but not participant" in politics.
The former state Nationals leader's most high-profile interventions in Hunter politics have been forcing former Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen to resign in March over a sex scandal and vowing to pick up the tab for offshore sand dredging to address Stockton's long-term beach erosion problems.
In June 2022, he controversially won a lucrative post overseas over a senior state public servant who had been offered the job before his resignation.
The former deputy premier has maintained that he followed procedures in securing the role, but quit the New York position after only a fortnight amid intense scrutiny.
An inquiry into his appointment had found a staffer in his office had made overtures regarding the job in the weeks prior to his resignation when then-Investment NSW deputy secretary Jenny West had secured a verbal offer.
The offer was rescinded and she was told the job would be "a present for someone", the probe found. She was later made redundant from her government role.
The inquiry ultimately cleared Mr Barilaro of misconduct.
Senator Cadell said his former Nationals colleague was "fiery" but he had nevertheless pursued him for a post in his office after learning he had returned to Canberra.
"He's certainly colourful, and all of that was considered," Senator Cadell said.
"I pushed pretty hard when I heard he was back in Canberra to get on board, but we worked well together when I was state director and he was deputy premier."
"We've worked well together in the past and we know what goes on, and that synergy was greater than the risk."
In response to questions over the emergence of One Nation as a potential threat from the right going into the 2027 poll, following the defection of former federal Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, Senator Cadell said he was focused on his own policy goals and performance.
"I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm not aware of the situation," he said.
"But it just makes me more focused on making sure I do the right thing and the best thing."
Senator Cadell said he had been refilling his staff ranks since leaving the front bench, and was "always looking for the right people to do the right job".
"This worked out for John in his situation and we will see how it goes," he said.
"Everyone is talking about what the other party is doing. Our job is to do the very best we can and Bari (Mr Barilaro) will help me do that."
