John Barilaro’s former chief of staff has submitted an explosive statement to the investigation into the former deputy premier’s appointment as New York trade commissioner. 

Mark Connell claims Mr Barilaro said he wanted the job following a meeting in 2019, where the creation of overseas postings was discussed with then-treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Stuart Ayres.

“After this meeting, Mr Barilaro came directly to my office,” Mr Connell wrote.

“He said, ‘I’ve just come from a meeting with Dom and Stuart regarding trade and we‘re going to bring back the Agent General.

“He then stated, ‘This is it; this is the job for when I get the f*** out of this place’.”

Nine News political reporter Chris O’Keefe told Ray Hadley the statement is set to put the former deputy premier “in all sorts of pain”.

Press PLAY below to hear Chris’ full analysis of the latest evidence with Ray

John Barilaro has told The Daily Telegraph “I completely refute the statement by Mr Connell. The conversation he has recalled is fictitious, false and only serves as a reminder as to why we had to part ways.”

Press PLAY below to hear Ray detail Mr Barilaro’s response

BREAKING: John Barilaro’s former Chief of Staff tells an inquiry that Barilaro told him RE New York trade gig in 2019. “This is the job for when I get the f### out of this place.” ⁦@9NewsSyd⁩ pic.twitter.com/fdIbM2skVU

— Chris O’Keefe (@cokeefe9) July 19, 2022

Image: Getty/Mark Kolbe