Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro will contest charges he assaulted a news camera operator and damaged equipment, a court has been told.
Barilaro, 50, was not required to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday when his lawyer entered pleas of not guilty on the former deputy premier’s behalf.
“We’re not lying down on this one,” lawyer Danny Eid told reporters.
Barilaro, who resigned from parliament in October 2020, was charged after the altercation with freelance cameraman Matt Costello outside a bar in Manly on July 23.
Barilaro later confirmed the incident, saying he was confronted in the dark outside a bar and felt harassed during a night out with friends.
“To come out and have a camera shoved in your face. I’m a private citizen,” he told 2GB in July.
“All I did was push a camera out of my way. I did not manhandle an individual.”
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He was charged with assault and malicious damage in late August.
Prosecutors have until November 9 to serve the brief on Barilaro’s lawyer.
The matter will return to Manly Local Court on December 7 for reply.
Barilaro has been engulfed in scandal since 2020 after taking defamation action against provocative entertainer Jordan Shanks better known by his nom de plume, Friendlyjordies.
Barilaro said he did nothing wrong by applying for the job.
Instead, an independent inquiry found a senior public servant was indirectly influenced by former trade minister Stuart Ayres’ preference over who should get the New York-based role.
