Perrottet is alleged to have offered to create a parliamentary trade role for Transport Minister David Elliott as a sweetener for dumping him from cabinet.
The premier, who on another occasion reportedly spoke to Elliott about the agent-general position in London, wouldn’t initially be drawn on this latest controversy.
However, speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB this morning, Perrottet was adamant the accusations were baseless.
“The allegations in relation to the creation of a role I would give to somebody outside politics is completely false and offensive,” Perrottet said.
“We canvassed a number of options in which Minister Elliott could continue to serve the people of NSW in the cabinet.”
The opposition said public service appointments needed to go to the best person.
“The premier today cannot hide from this. He has to come out and explain his role in relation to this,” leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe said.
“Not as a way to buy off a minister, not as a way of just doing it out as jobs for the boys.
“These are really important positions that are not things, little lollies to be hurt out to your friends.
“At this point, the more we hear, the more we need to know.”
Elliott said he had “no interest in working overseas again.”
Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes was at pains to declare no knowledge of the deal.
“We are going to parliament this week so there’ll be plenty of opportunities to ask questions on these matters,” he said.
For its part, the opposition plans to turn up the heat on the government, focusing not just on the Barilaro affair, but moving this week to expand its upper house inquiry to investigate all of the senior trade and investment commissioner positions.
The inquiry will again ask the premier to appear but he has so far declined.