Giovanni Domenic "Bruz" Barilaro (Italian: [d͡ʒoˈvan.ni doˈme.nik ˈba.ri.la.ro]; born 14 November 1971[2]) is an Italian-Australian former politician who served as the 18th deputy premier of New South Wales and the leader of the NSW National Party from 2016 to 2021.

In October 2021, he announced his resignation as Deputy Premier, Leader of the National Party and member for Monaro, saying it was "the right time for me to hand the reins over".

The defamation lawsuit resulted in Shanks making an apology to Barilaro in 2021 along with editing some parts of the videos, while Google was ordered to pay him $715,000 in damages.

His attempt at a post-political career as the New South Wales trade commissioner to the United States resulted in a political scandal for NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, after a series of embarrassing disclosures over Barilaro's creation of the highly paid role prior to his departure from Parliament, and the role of NSW Government ministers and public servants in the process.

The issue was referred to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, and minister Stuart Ayres resigned from his cabinet role over the matter.

[18] On 15 November 2016, Barilaro was elected unopposed as leader of the National Party in New South Wales, following the resignation of Troy Grant.

[23] Following the 2019 state election, Barilaro was sworn in as the Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade in the second Berejiklian ministry, with effect from 2 April 2019.

[32] He attributed the decision to a lack of support from Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, whom he accused of fearing him as a leadership rival.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian rejected the offer and gave Nationals ministers an ultimatum to withdraw their threat or be fired.

[44] From the latter half of 2020, YouTube comedian and political commentator Jordan Shanks, known online as friendlyjordies, published a series of videos criticising Barilaro for the 2019–20 bushfire season and accusing him of corruption.

[58] Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd criticised Barilaro for "asking counterterrorism police to round ... up" people he does not like, categorising the friendlyjordies incidents as typical investigative journalism that politicians expect to face.

[59] Others criticising the arrest include former Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery, politician Helen Dalton, journalist John Pilger, and Media Watch.

Shanks was liable for $100,000 in legal costs in relation to an unsuccessful application to have the case heard by a jury, but Barilaro did not receive any money in the settlement.

[63][64] Senior public servant Jenny West was due to be given the role, before her verbal offer was rescinded by the state government.

[65] On 30 June 2022, Barilaro announced he was withdrawing from his role as NSW Trade Commissioner to the Americas, stating that his position had become untenable, due to the intense media scrutiny that his appointment had received.

[66] His former chief of staff Mark Connell, gave evidence to the parliamentary inquiry on the matter that Barilaro had said prior to leaving Parliament "I've just come from a meeting with Dom (Perrottet) and Stuart (Ayres) regarding trade and we’re going to bring back the Agent General in London as well as a bunch of other postings around the world.

[79] Shanks also published a similar video featuring an extended version of the same conversation, in which Barilaro admitted he was purposefully "making foolish election commitments" to win the seat.

[81] Media Watch host Paul Barry opined that no outlets had covered the story due to the state laws of New South Wales which make it illegal to publish a recording of a private conversation without the person's consent.