NSW government sidelined independent recruitment process when hiring child safety watchdog

Natasha Maclaren-Jones, NSW minister for families, has defended the appointment of Stephen Kinmond as NSW children’s guardian. Photograph: Getty Images

The Perrottet government sidelined an independent recruitment process and selected its own preferred candidate who had not formally applied for a $400,000-a-year position as the state’s child safety watchdog, a Guardian investigation has found.

Stephen Kinmond was appointed New South Wales children’s guardian in December 2022 after he met with Natasha Maclaren-Jones, minister for families and communities, the previous month. This was despite a recruitment firm completing a formal interview process and recommending a different candidate to the government in October.