Arabic version: حزب أمة واحدة يدرس إعادة مفوضي التجارة في نيو ساوث ويلز

According to ABC News, One Nation NSW leader Mike Newman says he would consider restoring overseas trade commissioner roles if his party wins next year’s state election. Newman, 54, is the party’s candidate for Cessnock and previously served as NSW’s senior trade and investment commissioner in Tokyo from 2022 to 2024.

The Minns government abolished the positions after taking office, following a “jobs for the boys” scandal connected to former deputy premier John Barilaro’s appointment to the New York role. Newman, an investment banker who has criticised the state’s “bloated” bureaucracy, said ending the posts was a mistake. He said NSW “can’t be the hermit kingdom” and argued the state should pursue opportunities in Japan, Korea and India.

Newman said that, if One Nation had the opportunity to lead, he would look at creating something similar while bringing experienced people from the private sector into the roles. He said his criticism of bureaucracy was directed particularly at senior executive public servants, while maintaining that trade commissioners could deliver value. He said he could have done five times as much business on one-fifth of the staff.

A 2023 parliamentary committee report said trade commissioners received salaries of about $487,000 plus allowances. The committee reported that six posts cost taxpayers $12.7 million in 2021-22. Meanwhile, Premier Chris Minns is due to begin a four-day visit to India to attract investment, his first overseas trip as state leader. Minns said he was “pretty impressed” by Newman’s candour and welcomed him to the political debate.