Minns Rejects Firing Jo Haylen Over $750 Taxpayer-Funded Trip

Minns Rejects Firing Jo Haylen Over $750 Taxpayer-Funded Trip
Image: NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi) and NSW Ministerial Limo (Wikimedia Commons)

NSW Premier Chris Minns has ruled out firing NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen, despite condemning her use of a taxpayer-funded driver for a 13-hour round trip to a private lunch. Calling it a “massive error of judgement,” he insisted that neither Haylen nor Housing Minister Rose Jackson would face consequences.

Public backlash followed reports revealing Haylen asked her ministerial driver to collect Jackson, herself and friends from her holiday home in Caves Beach on January 25, and drive them to Brokenwood Winery in Pokolbin for a three-hour lunch.

The trip, spanning 446km, cost taxpayers $750, according to the Premier’s department. While technically permitted under NSW ministerial guidelines, Haylen admitted the decision was a “mistake” and pledged to personally repay the cost.

Premier Minns defends Transport Minister Jo Haylen’s “major mistake”

On Monday, Minns addressed public frustration over what many view as a misuse of government resources.

“I [personally] regard it as a massive error of judgment,” he said. “Having spoken to Jo Haylen, she fully acknowledges this was a shocker, a major mistake, and I believe that when she says she’s not going to do it again.”

Despite his staunch criticism, Minns confirmed that both ministers should remain in their roles, citing the need for “continuity” in their “big portfolios”.

“We still have to run these big agencies with complicated problems associated with them, and I need ministers who focus on the job at hand,” he said.

Minns also expressed displeasure over what he viewed as disrespect towards the government driver, who travelled nearly 100km north of the city. However, he maintained this was an isolated “lapse of judgement”.

“I’m confident and I’ve told them both that I expect that they’ll learn from this mistake and that they won’t repeat it,” he said.

The Premier added that he would seek advice and amend vehicle guidelines in the ministerial code to prevent similar incidents.

Minister Jo Haylen apologises for taxpayer-funded driver controversy

On Sunday, Haylen publicly apologised. “I made the wrong decision,” she admitted.

 

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When pressed on why she hadn’t just booked an Uber, she conceded, “In retrospect, I should have.”

The ministerial log book recorded the Hunter Valley trip from 8am to 8:50pm as a “business trip during working day”.

Haylen claimed that logging the trip fell under the Premier’s department and defended the driver as “a very good man and an absolute professional” who took all “required rest breaks”.

State opposition leader demands Haylen’s resignation

Coalition leader Mark Speakman attacked Haylen, accusing her of showing “contempt for the taxpayer” and demanding resignation over the “clearly unacceptable” decision.

“The use of a taxpayer-funded van to take her around is a disgrace. It’s not for drivers to be used in this way,” said the state opposition leader. ”Even within the guidelines, those rights come with responsibilities”.

Despite the opposition’s call for resignation, Haylen stood firmly.

“I’m owning it,” she said. “I’ve made a mistake here and that’s why I’m apologising and repaying the cost. Nobody’s perfect.”

Meanwhile, despite facing mounting pressure, Minns confirmed there would be no changes to the use of taxpayer-funded ministerial vehicles.

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