In his opening remarks earlier, Barilaro said he’d endured a “personal hell” over the trade job furore.
He insisted he had not done any wrongdoing over his application for the job.
“I refute any suggestions that I sought out any special treatment during the public service job process where an independent panel, on merit, put me forward as the preferred candidate.
“We’ve heard from long-term, professional senior public servants that I was a credible and capable candidate that brought many attributes to fill this important role for the people of our great state.
For that, I had my credentials and application publicly derided in what is nothing less than an abuse of my privacy.
“Let me make this clear. I applied for a public service job as a private citizen. Nothing excluded me in doing so. I followed the exact same process that was afforded to others.
“I went through several interviews, psychometric testing and police checks. I was offered a job. I accepted the job. I then withdrew from this job.
“From that moment I’ve endured what can only be described as a personal hell, unfair and unjust. I look forward today to stating my case to this committee.”