NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed her government is considering the restoration of the London-based agent-general role, saying a post-Brexit UK would offer fresh investment opportunities for the state.
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The quasi-diplomatic posting was in 1993 axed after an expenses scandal involving the final agent-general, Neil Pickard.
NSW and Tasmania are the only states currently without a UK agent-general.
Ms Berejiklian, who returned last month from a trade mission to the UK and Europe, on Sunday told reporters she was looking into reviving the role.
She said it may help the state sign investment deals with major UK firms.
"We know the post-Brexit environment is going to be very different and NSW can gain a lot of opportunities in business from the UK," Ms Berejiklian said.
"What I love about the opportunities of Brexit, both through UK and through Europe, is that it opens up for us to have a much more diverse investment base in NSW, to attract companies that often thought of NSW as too far, but now that's gone in this digital age."
Shadow NSW Treasurer Walt Secord said he wanted assurances a new agent-general would not repeat the mistakes of Mr Pickard.
NSW already has 11 overseas trade offices in 10 countries.
"It was a plum post," Mr Secord said in a statement.
"There will have to be strict safeguards to ensure the NSW quasi-diplomatic appointee does not abuse the position."
Australian Associated Press
