New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has announced an overhaul of regulations concerning ministerial drivers in response to a scandal involving Transport Minister Jo Haylen. Haylen has faced criticism after it was revealed she used a ministerial driver for a private lunch at Brokenwood Winery in the Hunter Valley. She has since stated her intention to reimburse the costs incurred.
Additional claims have emerged regarding other journeys, including trips related to her son’s weekend sports activities and visits to her chief of staff’s residence in the Blue Mountains. During a conversation on 2GB, Minns described Haylen’s actions as “indefensible” but confirmed she maintains these trips had a work context. He acknowledged the importance of senior ministers working long hours, including weekends, but described the situation as detrimental to the government’s image, labelling it a “black eye.”
Minns stated that the rules regarding ministerial drivers should have been amended promptly after his election, affirming that changes will take place in New South Wales. While he refrained from removing Haylen from her position to ensure continuity in the transport portfolio, he warned that any further instances of misuse of ministerial vehicles for private matters would weigh heavily on him. The Premier emphasised the necessity for the Labor government to uphold a standard of dignity and respect for its workers, acknowledging that public perception of the matter is decidedly negative.