The NSW Premier says no suitable candidates were found in an initial recruitment push for John Barilaro's new US trade job.
However, documents obtained by Labor show two candidates were ranked very highly on three out of four criteria.
The former deputy premier has been named the state's trade commissioner to the Americas, to be based in New York, with a salary package expected to top $500,000.
Documents obtained by Labor through the parliament show there had been a previous round of recruitment with a shortlist and interviews conducted in mid-2021.
A spreadsheet shows four people were interviewed, and two — Jenny West and Rob Fitzpatrick — exceeded in three criteria, and met the fourth.
But the job was readvertised in December, and Mr Barilaro was announced as the successful candidate last week.
"The advice I received is there was an initial process and the secretary of the department formed the view the process had not found an appropriate candidate for that appointment, and a second process was commenced," Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
"The advice I've received is (Jenny West) was not offered the job … but I'll get further advice in relation to that."
Labor's Penny Sharpe said that was not believable.
"The idea that a suitably qualified woman, with this level of skills on paper could just be cast aside so that we can get John Barilaro just tells you really where the commitment is," Ms Sharpe said.
Mr Perrottet said recruitment was conducted independently by the public service and did not need to be approved by cabinet.
But another email obtained by Labor states that the appointments were supposed to be put to cabinet.
"I've spoken to the Minister for Investment in relation to getting some information in respect to the process and details in relation to that, and once I've received those details I'm more than happy to make them public," Mr Perrottet said.
"I'm not across the exact details as to how that process was finalised but I'll make sure everything was in place.
"As long as the process was followed and there were good reasons behind the decisions I'll be satisfied. If they were not then I'll take action."
Labor is calling for Mr Barilaro's appointment to be delayed until a parliamentary inquiry looking into the decision reports back.
A motion supporting that call was passed in the upper house earlier today, with the support of the crossbench — except for One Nation.
The motion isn't binding, but has ratcheted up pressure on the government to delay Mr Barilaro's start in this new job.
During Question Time, the Premier said Mr Barilaro's employment had already been formalised.
"It would not be lawful for me as Premier to intervene in any step of the process," he said.
Mr Barilaro himself announced the creation of five NSW senior trade and investment commissioners (STIC) and an agent general in November 2020, when he was the deputy premier and trade minister.
