NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has admitted he was made aware of concerns about ex-minister Eleni Petinos in the months before she was sacked over bullying allegations, ABC News has reported.
Mr Perrottet told a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday that he instructed NSW Minister for Customer Service, Victor Dominello, to speak to Ms Petinos regarding the concerns.
But the Premier insists no significant issues were brought to his attention before Ms Petinos was sacked on July 31.
The department of customer service secretary, Emma Hogan, told a hearing she was first made aware of “a couple of incidents” involving Ms Petinos in April.
Ms Hogan said they were not formal complaints, but she raised the concerns with Ms Petinos in May.
When questioned about when he became aware of the issues, Mr Dominello insisted he “did not receive any formal or informal complaints.”
The Miranda MP was dumped from cabinet over bullying allegations that she denies.
The NSW Premier revealed Ms Petinos had offered to resign after the allegations first emerged and when they spoke on the phone during an overseas trip Mr Perrottet made in July.
“She said during the phone call that, ‘If it would help you, I would resign.’ There was no basis for her to do that,” Mr Perrottet said.
“I returned, I made my own inquiries, and my own decision (to fire her).”
READ MORE: NSW building chief’s resignation letter reveals concerns about Eleni Petinos and John Barilaro.
Source: ABC News and news.com.au.
