The confidential resignation letter of the NSW building commissioner is likely to be released to state parliament amid scrutiny over the conduct of the recently dumped fair trading minister Eleni Petinos.
David Chandler, tasked in 2019 with cleaning up NSW’s construction industry as the state’s first building commissioner, tendered his resignation last month despite having recently signed a contract extension.
David Chandler tendered his resignation last month despite having recently signed a contract extension.Credit:Kate Geraghty
The NSW opposition on Tuesday said it would use Legislative Council powers to compel the government to release the letter after it was revealed that Petinos met representatives from a property development company that employed former deputy premier John Barilaro.
The opposition queried the meetings between Petinos and Coronation Property, given a stop work order had been placed on one of its major projects, and also called on the premier to provide Chandler’s resignation letter.
Chandler, who reported to Petinos, had oversight of stop-work orders and whether to revoke them. Perrottet told question time that Chandler’s resignation was not a factor in his decision to sack Petinos as minister, but added that he had not read the letter in question.
Opposition fair trading spokeswoman Courtney Houssos said the government needed to provide more clarity over Chandler’s snap departure.
Former fair trade minister Eleni Petinos.Credit:Wolter-Peeters
“We think it’s important that the public has the opportunity to see why the building commissioner resigned so suddenly from his post. It’s not good enough for us to keep trying to piece together this picture,” she said.
“I’m really concerned that the premier has not taken the time to read this letter after we’ve been asking about it for several weeks. It’s either extreme negligence, or maybe there is something in there that he doesn’t want to know.”