Kieren Ash, the bureaucrat at centre of NSW Transport minister Jo Haylen’s staffer scandal, quits

Kieren Ash, the public servant at the centre of a probe into whether he broke departmental rules by doing banned political work while “on loan” to Jo Haylen’s office, left last Friday.

Jo Haylen, left and Kieren Ash, right. Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

The public servant at the centre of Transport Minister Jo Haylen’s staffing scandal has quit.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that former Labor candidate Kieren Ash resigned from Transport for NSW, pending the outcome of an investigation into whether he broke departmental rules by doing banned political work while on loan to Ms Haylen’s office.

Mr Ash had been working as a Senior Policy Officer in the department.

His last day was Friday.

The investigation was launched three months ago, after emails released to parliament revealed the work Mr Ash was doing while on loan to Ms Haylen’s office as a “departmental liaison officer” (DLO).

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

A DLO is prohibited from doing party political work while on secondment.

However, emails previously released to parliament revealed that Mr Ash helped organise a barbecue for Labor supporters, instructed an artificial intelligence robot to write responses for his Minister which were in a “positive tone” to the NSW Government while casting a “negative tone” on the Opposition.

Kieren Ash finished up at Transport for NSW on Friday. Picture: News Corp

In August, Mr Ash emailed lines for Ms Haylen to use attacking a Liberal MP Alister Henskens over his property disclosures. “I understand that Mr Henskens doesn’t declare any property in his register of interests … very interesting,” the lines said.

In another email, Ms Haylen’s press secretary described Mr Ash as a fellow political “operative”.

Before the election, Mr Ash had been managing Labor’s campaign to win back Balmain.

The Telegraph previously revealed that Ms Haylen knew Kieren Ash was doing work potentially outside his remit as a DLO.

In June, Mr Ash emailed a “draft op-ed” on decarbonising infrastructure to Ms Haylen’s private email address, for her “review”.

A week later, Ms Haylen responded: “Where did this get to team? I’m keen to get out something in this space asap thanks”.

Ms Haylen has insisted that all her “engagement” with Mr Ash was within the rules.

“My engagement with this public servant was wholly within his role as a DLO,” Ms Haylen said.

“Mr Ash has voluntarily ceased his employment with Transport for NSW,” a spokesman said.

“Transport does not provide information or comment about individual resignations.”

The investigation into Mr Ash, being led by TfNSW’s Chief People Officer, is still ongoing.

It will not be released publicly.

“Transport is finalising its investigation and will act on any opportunities for improvement identified,” a TfNSW spokesman said.

Mr Ash confirmed he had voluntarily quit, but declined to comment further.

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