Linda Silmalis of the Courier Mail writes it has been dubbed Barf-gate — who chundered in a ministerial car, leaving the driver gagging and resulting in a clean-up bill costing hundreds of dollars?
The car was driven by a ministerial driver who transported NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro and Liberal MP Eleni Petinos (right, with Blues coach) from ANZ Stadium, where they had been watching the State of Origin match on Wednesday night.
The pair had watched the game with Mr Barilaro’s young daughter and one of his staffers.
Mr Barilaro was in a celebratory mode after a successful state Budget, tweeting from the game: “I spent today backing #NSW in small business AND State of #Origin! UP THE BLUES!!!!!”
By Friday, word was going around Parliament House of a driver fuming over what he had discovered in the car upon starting his shift hours — possible a day — later.
“The word is one vomited, and that set off the others,” a source close to the driver said.
Mr Barilaro, a married father of two, declined to answer any questions about the cost of the clean-up bill, nor who left the car in a mess.
A statement from his office confirmed Mr Barilaro and Ms Petinos were at Origin, but declined to confirm the figure to be repaid.
“The taxpayer will not have to bear any costs,” the statement said.
“Costs incurred will be privately managed.”