NSW Trade Minister Stuart Ayres Resigns Following Questions of Breached Code of Conduct

NSW Trade, Tourism, and Sport Minister Stuart Ayres speaks to media during a press conference at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 2, 2022. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

New South Wales (NSW) Trade Minister Stuart Ayres has stepped down from all ministerial positions as well as deputy leader of the state Liberal Party.

It comes after a draft review into how former NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro landed a high-paying U.S. trade role raised a concern as to whether Ayres breached the ministerial code of conduct.

“In my view, no such breach has occurred. However, I agree it is important that this matter is investigated appropriately and support the premier’s decision to do so,” Ayres said in a statement on Aug. 3.

“I have always applied the highest levels of integrity in my conduct as a minister.

“To maintain the integrity of the cabinet, I have decided to resign as a minister to allow the investigation to be completed. Accordingly, I will also be resigning as the deputy leader of the Liberal Party.”

Ayres will remain as a member for the Western Sydney suburb of Penrith.

Previously, Ayres acknowledged that he should have told his Barilaro not to apply for the job.

“I should have told him that even though he’s a private citizen, and he can apply for the role ... it was probably not in his best interest or the state’s best interests,” Ayres told reporters on Aug. 2.

“Given what Mr Barilaro has been through, he too would seriously question whether applying for this job was in his best interests.”

Parliamentary Inquiry

The draft report submitted to the parliamentary committee examining the recruitment process also brought into question Ayres’s role.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said Ayres denied any wrongdoing but that the report “no doubt” raised questions into any potential breach of ministerial code of conduct.

Perrottet continued to back Ayres throughout the saga, even while pressure continued to mount on the premier to sack his trade minister.

Labor finance spokesman Daniel Mookhey said on Aug. 1 that documents had shown that an independent hiring panel had determined Barliaro “was not the best person for the job” after interviews with four candidates.

“We need to hear a clear and precise explanation from Stuart Ayres as to how it was possible that that report was changed days before the Barilaro announcement,” Mookhey said.

On the same day, Ayres had defended Barilaro’s appointment, saying it was a public service appointment made by Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown.

Brown is scheduled to attend the parliamentary inquiry on Aug. 3 to provide evidence.

In an earlier hearing, former senior public servant Jenny West said she had been formally offered the trade role before it was withdrawn.

Barilaro walked away from the role less than two weeks after his appointment was announced in June, saying it had become untenable.

AAP contributed to this report.