Review of promotion decisions for vacancies advertised after 1 April 2025

A new way of conducting promotion reviews

For vacancies advertised from 1 April 2025 the MPC will be able to conduct a review of the entire selection process.

We will review evidence that relates to the process – such as the job description, the advertisement, the make-up of the selection panel, conflict of interest declarations, interview questions, assessment tasks and the selection report.

Our role is to determine whether the selection process is merit based.

This new model will:

• strengthen the understanding and application of merit in public sector recruitment
• improve recruitment outcomes across the APS
• build capability and transparency in selection processes
• share good recruitment practices across the public sector to support continuous improvement
• build confidence in the sector through education, advice, and guidance arising from our review work
• allow for proportionate action to be taken where there is evidence of non-compliance with the merit principle.

What is merit in recruitment?

There are many different types of recruitment practices across the APS for a range of general and specialist roles. However an Agency chooses to recruit, they have obligations to design a process that is merit-based, and which can withstand scrutiny.

The merit principle is enshrined in section 10 of the Public Service Act 1999, with further specific requirements on what makes a recruitment process merit-based in the APS Commissioner’s Directions 2022. Read more about merit on our page about the  legislative framework.

What is a promotion review?

A promotion review is where the MPC reviews an entire selection process from beginning to end, to determine whether the process has complied with the merit principle and requirements as set out in the legislation.