MP Jai Rowell’s former staffer claiming compensation after falling out of car

STATE Liberal MP Jai Rowell has ­become the subject of an insurance claim by his former electorate office manager after she fell out of his ministerial car.

Wollondilly State MP Jai Rowell made a major announcement about the Maldon Dombarton Rd/Railline.

STATE Liberal MP Jai Rowell has ­become the subject of an insurance claim by his former electorate office manager after she fell out of his ministerial car while the pair were letterboxing ahead of the last election.

Staffer Brooke Hilton allegedly ­injured her hip and leg when she fell from Mr Rowell’s ministerial car while delivering pro-government pamphlets in the Southern Highlands with the then minister at the wheel.

Liberal sources told The Daily Telegraph the incident may have occurred because the Member for Wollondilly was “horsing around”, either as Ms Hilton entered or got out of the car, a claim Mr Rowell did not deny last night.

Brooke Hilton worked with The Hon. Jai Rowell MP, Member for Wollondilly

But it is understood Mr Rowell claims the incident was an accident. He would not say whether Ms Hilton was getting out or in the car when the car moved and the accident occurred.

Mr Rowell would only comment last night of his use of the car to letterbox, saying: “I believe I have acted in accordance with the ministerial guidelines.”

Ms Hilton is understood to have ­engaged lawyers but is not commenting. She said she was “not at liberty to discuss” the matter yesterday.

Ms Hilton’s mother, Sharon, herself a candidate for Wollondilly at the 2007 state election, also declined to comment.

Sources close to Mr Rowell said the compulsory third party insurance claim from Ms Hilton came a year after the incident, which occurred in October 2014.

Speaker Shelley Hancock confirmed an incident occurred, saying in a statement: “The process of any investigation and their outcomes are confidential to the parties. In every case, a duty of care for the safety and wellbeing of parliamentary staff is the primary consideration. No further comment will be made in relation to this matter.”

Mr Rowell was dumped as a minister after the election when he refused to back Dai Le, a candidate backed by Mike Baird, for a preselection in the upper house.

Mr Rowell had been serving as Mental Health Minister and Assistant Minister for Health.

Desperate to get back into the ministry, he has since switched from the Right to the moderates faction, and brought numbers with him.

A spokesman for the Premier said last night: “The Premier has sought ­advice from Department of Premier and Cabinet, which confirms a ministerial car may be used by a minister for any private purpose.”

It is the second time this year that a Liberal member of parliament has caused Premier Baird embarrassment over their conduct.

it is understood Mr Rowell claims the incident was an accident.

Mr Baird has asked for a report from his department over the granting by East Hills MP Glenn Brookes of $28,000 worth of grants to a man ­alleged to have helped Mr Brookes with his campaign who is a convicted money launderer Carl Trad.

Those grants were from the Community Building Partnership Scheme to Mr Trad’s Australian Multicultural Christian Society. Some $10,000 was granted for a catering van for the homeless with the department of premier and cabinet yet to receive a receipt for it.

The other grant was for $18,000 for a COLA shade structure for East Hills public school but the money has yet to be accessed. Mr Brookes has denied the grants related to Mr Trad assisting him with his campaign.