Revelations about a plum job given to former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro have been referred to the state’s corruption court. 

An inquiry has been investigating how and why Mr Barilaro was appointed as the state's trade commissioner to the US - a job role he created - after it had already been offered to deputy secretary of Investment NSW Jenny West.

Ms West told the inquiry this week that she had been offered the role in August 2021 and was even sent a briefing note signed by then-premier Gladys Berejiklian.

But two months later, she says she was informed that she would no longer be getting the job, as it had been set up as “a present for someone”.

Ms West told the inquiry that Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown messaged her on August 12 congratulating her on the role, but during a meeting on October 14, Ms Brown informed Ms West that the offer had been withdrawn. 

Ms West was then allegedly told that her role as deputy secretary would also be made redundant.

“In the space of four weeks, I went from being appointed to the role of the senior trade and investment commissioner for the Americas to potentially not having a job,” she said. 

She said Ms Brown had told her that after speaking with Trade Minister Stuart Ayres - who had taken over the deputy premier's portfolio - Ms West would not be getting the role.

Mr Ayres says he rejects any suggestion that he “exerted political influence on the recruitment process”.

“Amy Brown is and was the decision maker for this role. Her evidence has been clear and consistent that this is a decision for the Secretary and one I did not influence,” he said.

The evidence has now been referred to NSW's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

The review committee chair and Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann said she had “an obligation” to send the transcript from Monday's hearing to the corruption watchdog. 

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the reports are “concerning”.

“There is absolutely no place for gifts of government jobs, whether they are statutory appointments or whether they are government sector appointments,” he said.