NSW POLITICS:

Controversial former deputy premier of NSW, John Barilaro, says he has set his sights on a new job after dropping plans to become the state’s US-based trade representative.

Mr Barilaro will use his appearance before a NSW parliamentary inquiry to outline his desire to succeeded the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of millions of followers of the Tibetan Buddhist faith around the world. (main picture)

Yesterday he began giving evidence in the parliamentary committee’s probe of events surrounding his appointment as the state’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas based in New York.

This morning Mr Barilaro was upbeat about his next appearance, the outcome of the committee’s investigation, and his prospects of succeeding the current Dalai Lama aged 87 who has himself begun speculating on a successor.

“I think those who know me well also know that I bring a sense of peace, goodwill, joy, unity, and serenity to whatever task I undertake,” he said.

“Sure, I experienced a couple of minor bumps in my political career, like the time in December 2017 I called on Malcolm Turnbull to resign as PM as a Christmas gift to the nation when I was leading the Nationals in a coalition with his party in NSW.

“Yes, I did make belittling and divisive comments about the then federal National Party leader and deputy PM Michael McCormack in April 2020 when I was trying to get the nod to shift to federal politics in a by-election.

“In September that year I brought the NSW coalition government to the brink of collapse over land clearing laws which I couldn’t support because they favoured a few privileged koalas.

“Then there was that legal shitshow with the Friendly Jordies video channel – not my fault, I was provoked into a defamation action by those [Editor’s note: Comments deleted on legal advice] and their [Comments deleted on legal advice] lawyers.

“Yep, I did have a bit of a stoush with a camera operator the other night.

“Now there’s a bit of unrest among woke eggheads about the way I got the New York job which I surrendered gracefully. But let’s see where the chips falls on that.”

Mr Barilaro said he would be “ready and waiting” to be the 15^th Dalai Lama when those charged with finding a successor to the current one begin their ancient search for his reincarnated soul.

“I just need to get into the ear of the Mr Lama or those who’ll be making the decision on his successor and urge them to look south-east and down a bit when the time comes,” he said.

“On balance I reckon I’d be a cert to be the next Dalai Lama and bring a sense of calm and tranquillity, not just to NSW or Australia, but to the world, and possibly the after-world, if you believe all that Buddhist bullshit.”