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A government executive is set to be grilled once again as an inquiry stemming from the appointment of former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro to a desirable US trade role holds its 12th hearing.
The inquiry was created after former deputy premier John Barilaro was appointed to the highly desirable role of US trade commissioner in June.
Mr Barilaro resigned from the job two weeks later, citing intense media scrutiny.
The former deputy premier has consistently denied any wrongdoing, although he told the inquiry in August he did regret applying.
"If I knew what I know now, I wouldn't have walked into what was a s**tshow," he said.
The inquiry has since expanded its scope to analyse all appointments to overseas trade roles made by the government and has recently focused on NSW Agent-General to London Stephen Cartwright.
Last week, Mr Cartwright told the hearing he was "horrified" by the price of rent in London and quickly realised his $600,000 salary package would not cover his costs.
"I started to do some of that research as soon as I arrived and was pretty horrified with what I saw," Mr Cartwright told the inquiry.
"I discovered just how poorly NSW had structured these things."
The government later agreed to pay his rent, expected to cost taxpayers about $105,000.
Managing director of Investment NSW Kylie Bell is due to appear before the committee when the hearing resumes on Friday.
Ms Bell first appeared before the committee in August and defended Mr Barilaro, saying she felt a third party recruiter held an "unconscious bias" against the former deputy premier.
Documents revealed in August showed recruitment firm NGS Global had altered candidates' grading to put Mr Barilaro as the leading applicant.
Ms Bell, who was on the selection panel in charge of hiring Mr Barilaro, said the changes were made because she endorsed his skills and expertise.
