Image: Jo Haylen/Facebook
Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen resigned the transport ministry on the morning of Tuesday 4 February following a scandal over her taxpayer-funded personal trip to the Hunter Valley on the Australia Day long weekend.
In an afternoon statement to the media, Haylen acknowledged that using public funds to attend a luncheon with friends “was an error of judgement” which was causing the government damage.
“Politics is difficult. Expectations are high, and I know that from the very minute I was appointed a minister, I have worked my arse off,” Haylen said.
Taxpayer-funded trip causes scandal
On Saturday 25 January, the day before Australia Day, Haylen made use of her access to government-subsidised transport to attend a long lunch in the Hunter Valley.
A government driver ferried her and several friends, including mental health minister Rose Jackson, to the private event, first travelling from Sydney to the transport minister’s Caves Beach holiday home near Newcastle before going to the Brokenwood Estate winery.
The round trip was 13 hours in length and took the government vehicle 446 kilometres.
Following the scandal, Haylen committed to pay back the $750 cost of the trip, but was unable to escape criticism and calls for her resignation, with opposition leader Mark Speakman saying the use of public funds for the trip “shows a contempt for the taxpayer.”
Premier Chris Minns also criticised the action, but refused to sack the minister.
Haylen said another government-funded trip to the Hunter last year was circumstantially different, as she was working on the day.
Spruiks successes in office
“Government is a collective effort, and our agenda is more important than one individual,” Haylen told reporters, expressing her belief that the public transportation system is in a better state now than when she assumed the ministry following Labor’s 2023 electoral victory.
“When we came to government, we inherited a public transport system that was on its knees. I’m incredibly proud that we’ve managed to make public transport exciting again,” the former minister remarked.
“People are voting with their feet. Patronage is up. Public transport is the great social equaliser. It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how where you live, you can get public transport, get to work, do your job and look after your family.”
“Great global cities of the world have great public transport systems, and Sydney is well on its way.”
Long involvement in transport
Prior to heading the transport ministry following the March 2023 election, Haylen was the shadow transport minister, appointed by then-opposition leader Minns in June 2021.
Prior to that, she was Shadow Minister for Active Transport under Labor leader Jodi McKay, appointed in July 2019.
Along with the premier, she was the face of the government through prolonged conflict with railway unions. After most of the involved unions withdrew disruptive industrial action in late January, she credited the government’s “strong action” with averting further disruption for travellers.
Personal challenges
Haylen spoke of the personal challenges of being a minister and of attaining the public’s confidence.
“You don’t clock out from being a minister. You work every single minute of the day, just like you don’t clock out from being a mum,” she said.
“Combining those roles is difficult, but I’m not alone in that challenge. I’ve always prided myself on trusting in … the good will of people.”
“I’m lucky to serve, treating people with respect and acting with integrity, and that I am loyal and always will be. It kills me right now that some people might think otherwise of me.”
Haylen thanked her staff and family for their service and support.
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