Senior NSW MP Stuart Ayres resigned yesterday from his frontbench and Liberal Party leadership roles over a potential breach of the ministerial code of conduct. The former minister’s involvement in the (now scuttled) appointment of former Deputy Premier John Barilaro to a lucrative trade envoy role based in New York has been under the microscope. Ayres maintained the process was completed at arm’s length, but new evidence before an ongoing parliamentary inquiry shows that’s not the case. Earlier this week, NSW Small Business Minister Eleni Petinos was sacked over bullying allegations – claims she denies. And the Victorian Coalition aren’t travelling much better… Opposition leader Matthew Guy’s chief of staff resigned over proposed payments to his personal business – it’s been referred to the authorities. Victoria’s state election is in November, and NSW’s is in March…