Leader of the NSW Liberal Party John Brogden has labeled the Premier's refusal to apologise to a 17 year old cadet journalist accused of lying by the Premier's office an indictment on his fitness to hold the highest office in the state.

"This smacks of the Cecil Hills High School disgrace," Mr Brogden said.

"Once again we see this Government's disregard for the reputation and character of a young journalist who published Carr's comment that the Mogo Charcoal Plant was 'going ahead - end of story' in the Eurobodalla Sun newspaper.

"Like the arrogance shown during the Cecil Hills debacle, the Premier has made a mockery of the seriousness of holding an Office of the Crown.

"The Opposition asked would he apologise to the journalist for the attempts by his staff to discredit the quote.

"His one word response - "No" - says it all."

Mr Brogden said that despite a signed statutory declaration, the journalist's own notes from the interview and a witness to endorse his version of events the Premier refused to reconsider his actions.

He said that the Premier's response was akin to an admission of his part in the attempted witch hunt.

"The Office of the Premier is the highest in the state," Mr Brogden said.

"It is no place for Pinocchio, or arrogance towards an individual who was merely doing his job.

"His deliberate refusal to apologise is an indictment on his fitness to hold this Office,"