More details have emerged about the sacking of former NSW minister Eleni Petinos. 

Former New South Wales Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading, Eleni Petinos, was dumped from the state’s cabinet following an anonymous complaint by a staffer from Ms Petinos' office, reportedly alleging bullying. Ms Petinos denies the allegations. 

In a budget estimates hearing this week, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet admitted he knew of concerns about Ms Petinos in the months before she was sacked, but claimed no significant issues were brought to his attention before she had her portfolio taken away on July 31.

Mr Perrottet said he instructed Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello to speak to Ms Petinos regarding the concerns.

“Workplace complaints are dealt with by the department of premier and cabinet and where appropriate escalated to the attention of the premier and his office,” he said.

“I have a subsequent action taken by the premier following the discussion with the secretary of my department Ms Hogan. I was not privy to that discussion, and I was informed of the premier's decision later that evening [on July 31].”

Weeks before Ms Petinos was dumped, the state’s building commissioner David Chandler sent a resignation letter to the Premier’s chief-of-staff that raised concerns about the relationship between Ms Petinos and developer Coronation Property Group, which had hired former deputy premier John Barilaro. Mr Chandler has since been convinced to stay in the role. 

Mr Perrottet this week said he only found out about the building commissioner's resignation in the hours before he sacked Ms Petinos. 

He insisted that the issues raised with Coronation Property Group during his “45-minute conversation” with the department secretary Ms Hogan did not influence his decision.

“At the end of the conversation matters in relation to the building commissioner's resignation was raised ... the secretary of the department said to me that she'd looked into those issues and that no further action needed to be taken,” Mr Perrottet said. 

“I can assure you nothing arose in the course of that aspect of the discussion that had any bearing or impact on my decision-making in relation to Ms Petinos."”