Australia's premier Dominic Perrottet has revealed that he knew that John Barilaro wanted the plum role as the state's trade commissioner to the US, as the pair had discussed it at a social function.
Mr Barilaro was named the state's senior trade commissioner to the Americas earlier this month, based in New York, with a salary package topping $500,000.
The appointment of the former deputy prime minister sparked criticism from Labor who described it as a case of jobs for boys. A parliamentary inquiry into the recruitment process will begin on Wednesday.
Mr Perrottet said today that Mr Barilaro spoke to him about his intention to apply for the job at a social event.
I speak to people socially and there is always an interest in people saying I'm interested in this and I'm interested in that, the Premier said.
It was an independent process from my position. The Premier said he couldn't recall when Mr Barilaro informed him of his intention to apply for the job, but it was after he left politics.
It's an independent process that goes through an independent panel, according to Perrottet.
The Premier said that he was told by Trade Minister Stuart Ayres that Mr Barilaro had officially applied before advising him in April that Mr Barilaro had been successful in securing the position.
The Premier said it didn't need to, so the appointment didn't go to cabinet.
He said that these appointments were public sector appointments, and that was the advice we had received at the time.
You have to be careful about undermining the process. Two other trade commissioner positions had been presented to cabinet but the Premier said they incorrectly went to cabinet Last week. Perrottet announced a review into the recruitment process and former Public Service Commissioner Graeme Head was tasked with carrying out the investigation.
Perrottet said he wanted to have public confidence in the process, in decision-making.
Let's allow that inquiry to take its course. The Premier said it's up to Mr Head to decide whether he is interviewed as part of the review but added: I don't see the relevance. The upper house has passed a motion calling for the government to delay deploying Mr Barilaro to New York until the inquiry reports back in the coming weeks.
At the time, Mr Perrottet said that the former Nationals Leader was the best person for the job and that he was certain he would do a brilliant job. The New York posting was one of six trade positions around the world tasked with spruiking the state's investment opportunities.
Before his resignation from the state parliament in October, Mr Barilaro, as trade minister, was involved in setting up the international postings.
The chief executive of Investment NSW, Amy Brown was on the interview panel that chose Mr Barilaro only months after he ceased to be her boss. A spokesman for Investment NSW said there was no conflict of interest.
The Premier said no suitable candidates were found in an initial round of interviews for the New York job.
Labor shows that two candidates met the fourth and exceeded three criteria.
One of the candidates, Jenny West, was offered the job before the offer was later rescinded, according to Mr Perrottet.
Jenny West was not offered the job, according to the advice I've received.