A simple Google search could have saved the NSW Government the embarrassment of hiring Labor Party kingpin Joe Scimone, a State Government committee has heard.NSW Maritime's chief executive Steve Dunn has been grilled by National Party MLC Duncan Gay over the appointment of Mr Scimone during the General Purpose Standing Committee on Ports and Waterways.In a tense exchange, Mr Dunn was asked why he didn't perform basic background checks on Mr Scimone before Maritime gave him a $200,000-a-year job as executive director of the agency's property division.Mr Scimone was appointed on January 14, 10 months after he quit his job as a Wollongong City Council manager and almost a year after the Mercury reported he was facing a harassment complaint from a female employee at the council."Were you aware of the incidents relating to (Mr Scimone), like the details that were in the Illawarra Mercury, that he still had questions to answer? Did that come to light during that (recruitment) process or before the process?" Mr Gay asked."No, it did not," Mr Dunn replied.Mr Gay: Why would it not? I did a Google search and that sort of material came straight up.Mr Dunn: Googling does not form part of the public sector recruitment process.At the time of Mr Scimone's appointment early this year, Mr Dunn was second in command at NSW Maritime.Mr Scimone was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint by former council staffer Vicki Curran while he worked at Wollongong City Council.The complaint was settled at the Administrative Decisions Tribunal in February 2007 on confidential terms. Mr Scimone later resigned but said it was not linked to the complaint.After the settlement, former employees contacted female councillors and urged them to seek out a confidential report about harassment within the council. In February this year, Mr Scimone became embroiled in Wollongong's corruption scandal. The Independent Commission Against Corruption later found Mr Scimone to be corrupt and recommended that criminal charges be considered against him.Mr Scimone was stood down from his NSW Maritime position on February 20.