NSW agent general to UK approved ad attacking Labor tax policy before 2019 election

The man appointed by the New South Wales government to a senior London trade role approved negative television ads that targeted a Labor business tax policy at the last state election in his previous job as head of the NSW Business Chamber.

Separately, a NSW parliamentary inquiry heard testimony this week that the NSW agent general to the UK, Stephen Cartwright, went over the head of his manager, Investment NSW chief Amy Brown, and messaged Liberal trade minister Stuart Ayres directly in a dispute about a cost of living allowance.

While the inquiry was set up to probe the appointment of the former deputy premier John Barilaro to a trade role in New York, Labor is now pushing to widen its remit to all six new trade roles created by the Coalition, with the London appointment coming under increased scrutiny during hearings.

Prior to his appointment as the London trade envoy last year, Cartwright headed the NSW Business Chamber for 11 years.

Electoral funding disclosures show the broad campaign cost more than $500,000, including $63,000 spent with digital strategy agency Topham Guerin, which was also being used by the state Liberal party during the election.