Principle 5: Assessment as Primary Consideration 1 min read

Secondary considerations: only when candidates are equal

Willingness to relocate is a tiebreaker, not a shortlisting tool.

Secondary considerations, such as willingness to relocate, availability to start, or ability to meet specific Agency requirements, can only be applied when candidates are otherwise equal on merit. They are tiebreakers, not filters.

Panels routinely misuse them. A candidate is quietly ranked down because they flagged a later start date. Another is preferred because they are already in the region. Both decisions bypass the merit assessment and substitute a secondary factor.

The Directions are explicit: merit must remain the primary consideration. Secondary considerations must relate to matters within the candidate’s control, must not constitute patronage or favouritism, and must not produce direct or indirect discrimination.

If they are deciding the outcome, they are not secondary.

In your selection report, state explicitly whether any secondary consideration was applied, and why candidates were equal on merit first.
This article is part of a short-read series collaboration by Nguma Pty Ltd and Onpoint 365 on Australian Government hiring.
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