NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen announces resignation after ‘chauffeur scandal’, as passenger Rose Jackson stays silent

Tough new rules have been brought in for politicians after a scandalous chauffeured wine trip took down transport minister Jo Haylen.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has brought in tough new rules for ministers following the bombshell resignation of former transport minister Jo Haylen.

Haylen resigned from the Cabinet on Tuesday after admitting to using taxpayer-funded drivers for private use, including for a private Australia Day weekend getaway at a winery in the Hunter Valley last month.

Responding to the escalating scandal, Mr Minns said he would draw bright new lines around public and private life for ministers in light of Haylen’s “error of judgment”.

“While this was clearly an error of Judgement, there are also too many grey areas where private and public uses blur,” he said.

“Jo has paid a high price for that … while private use of ministerial drivers has been permitted under longstanding rules, community expectations and standards rightly do not match these rules,” he said.

Jo Haylen with NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“The best way to fix this is to change the rules, and that is what I have done today.

“As such, the vehicle use policy in the Minister’s Office Handbook, will be updated to ban the use of ministerial drivers for exclusively private purposes.

“All ministers must comply with the policy which will take effect immediately.”

Ministerial drivers are now only permitted for official business purposes and drivers may only be used for private purposes if the use is incidental to the discharge of the minister’s official duties, Mr Minns said.

Last month, Haylen and Mental Health and Housing Minister Rose Jackson travelled to a private lunch in the Hunter Valley, with Haylen reportedly organising the trip to celebrate Jackson’s 40th birthday.

Jackson is not expected to resign from her position.

NewsWire understands Jackson did not have any prior knowledge of the jaunt or destination and did not organise it in any way.

Haylen delivered her resignation to Mr Minns on Tuesday morning. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Jackson has yet to deliver a statement on the scandal, but it is understood she has no plans to resign her ministerial portfolios.

The Hunter Valley winery trip reportedly cost $750 and Haylen has said her actions on that day failed the “pub test”.

She has pledged to pay back the money.

Last year, the former minister used her driver to take her family to a weekend lunch at Little Hartley, west of the Blue Mountains, The Daily Telegraph reported.

She reportedly also used her driver to ferry herself and her children from her holiday home in Caves Beach, south of Newcastle, to Saturday sports matches in Sydney.

A person speaking anonymously with The Daily Telegraph claims the 300km round trip from Caves Beach to Sydney happened “more than four or five times”.

A person speaking anonymously with The Daily Telegraph claims the 300km round trip from Caves Beach to Sydney happened “more than four or five times”.

The scandal, revealed by the Sunday Telegraph over the weekend, exploded this week as NSW Premier Chris Minns publicly criticised her behaviour.

Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson is not expected to resign in the wake of Jo Haylen’s ‘chauffeur scandal’. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Minns said the private use of taxpayer-funded drivers was “unacceptable”.

In her resignation statement on Tuesday, Haylen said her mistakes were causing the government “damage”.

“I did not break the rules but I acknowledge that that’s not the only test here. I’ve let the public down and I’m very sorry for that,” she said.

“We were elected to be better than the last government.

“This morning I told the Premier I will resign my position as minister for transport. I will continue to serve the Government as the Member for Summer Hill.

“I want to put on the record, I did also take a trip last year with my husband to the Hunter Valley.

“It was not the same circumstances as on the 25th of January.

“I was working on that day but I acknowledge that the use of my personal driver was an error of Judgement by me.

“My mistakes are now causing my government damage. Politics is tough. Expectations are very high. I know that.

“From the very minute I was been appointed a minister, I’ve worked my arse off.

“You don’t switch on and off from being a minister.”

Liberal Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Mr Minns had failed the “leadership test”.

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has slammed Mr Minns’ response to the scandal. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“Jo Haylen has made the right call to resign as Transport Minister. But make no mistake, this wasn’t Chris Minns taking decisive action. This was three days of weak leadership, excuses and political protection before Ms Haylen finally fell on her sword,” he said on Tuesday.

For three days, Chris Minns had opportunity after opportunity to sack his Transport Minister.

The evidence was there and kept mounting. The repeated use of taxpayer-funded vehicles that no fair and reasonable person would accept was clear. But instead of acting, Chris Minns stalled, deflected, and hoped the problem would go away.”

Mr Speakman also claimed Jackson was being protected from censure or punishment for factional reasons.

“While Jo Haylen has gone for the time being, what about Rose Jackson?” he asked.

“Instead, stories appeared that said ‘a senior government source’ claimed she had no idea it was her birthday celebrations to protect Ms Jackson while her friend took the fall.

“Chris Minns had taken no action on Ms Jackson because he relies on her to bring him left faction support.”

‘Make public transport exciting again’

She said she was proud of the work she and her government had done to “make public transport exciting again”.

“Public transport is the great social equaliser, it allows everyone, no matter how much money you make, to get where they need to go, to get to your job, to look after your family,” she said.

“Great global cities of the world have great public transport systems and Sydney is well on its way. I’m disappointed I don’t get to finish the job but I want to thank each and every member of the transport team. They are a committed workforce doing an essential job each and everyday for all of us.

“They are lead by the best secretary in government Josh Murray and I thank him for everything he has done and will continue to do.”

Haylen ended her speech by thanking Mr Minns, her Cabinet colleagues, chief of staff Kate Lee and deputy Mat Howard and her husband and children.

“They’re going to see lots more of me now,” she said.

“So will the excellent people of Summer Hill. See you all soon.”

Haylen declined to answer any questions following her statement.

Haylen apologised to her Cabinet colleagues for the scandal at a meeting on Monday, with a number of Labor MPs reportedly incensed by her use of the car and driver.

Roads and Arts Minister John Graham will become the new transport minister, Mr Minns announced, with his new duties officially beginning on Friday.

Originally published as NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen announces resignation after ‘chauffeur scandal’, as passenger Rose Jackson stays silent