Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton down two more staffers, her policy director and press adviser

SHE has gone through seven drivers and at least eight electorate staff and now Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton has lost her policy director and press adviser.

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SHE has gone through seven drivers and at least eight electorate staff and now Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton has lost her policy director and press adviser.

Policy director Jason Walsh is moving to the planning department and press secretary Julian Crowley will work for Disability Minister John Ajaka.

A spokeswoman for Ms Upton (below) said: “We don't comment on staffing matters.”

Ms Upton, a former merchant banker and corporate lawyer, is known for demanding high standards in her office.

Last November, The Daily Telegraph reported that Ms Upton had to employ a private contractor to drive her after falling out with seven different government drivers over just two years as a minister.

The member for Vaucluse dismissed one driver for not being able to use GPS adequately and another after he ran late for an 8am pick-up at her Darling Point home.

The Daily Telegraph later reported the minister had had eight electorate staff fill two positions over four years.

Sources close to Ms Upton yesterday tried to downplay the moves of Mr Walsh and Mr Crowley, pointing out both men were close to former workmate Nicholas Ruygrok, who tragically died in a cycling accident late last year. Mr Crowley did not comment on the move yesterday but confirmed it was not connected to the death of his close friend and workmate.

Mr Walsh declined to take calls.

Ms Upton had a difficult finish to last year, under fire from the Opposition in parliament over failing to declare to cabinet that she had $50,000 worth of shares in an energy company during a cabinet discussion over deregulating gas prices.