NSW ministers and staff rack up $18,000 in fines for breaking road rules
NSW ministers and their staff have racked up more than $18,000 in traffic fines this year, with offences including speeding, mobile phone use and parking violations.
EXCLUSIVE
NSW ministers, their staff and chauffeurs accrued more than $18,000 in traffic fines this year with the offences ranging from speeding and going through a red light to using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
Premier’s Department documents obtained under freedom of information laws reveal Police Minister Yasmin Catley copped a $140 fine for parking the ministerial car “longer than the maximum period allowed” on July 25.
Climate and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe was pinged $136 on Christmas Eve for “disobeying a no parking sign” and another $110 for “failing to comply with council notice in public place”.
And while Premier Chris Minns maintained his clean driving record, the same was not the case for some of his staffers who were caught speeding, disobeying a no stopping sign, using a mobile phone, failing to pay a parking fee or obeying a sign and overstaying a park.
The fines were for traffic offences from government vehicles assigned to Ministerial offices from 11 October 2024 to 13 November 2025.
Offences detected via camera are five times higher for company or government vehicles.
Once the driver responsible is known, a separate notice with the reduced amount issued to the person that was behind the wheel.
The total fine amount of $18,166 included the original fine amounts.
The documents showed a staffer in the premier’s office was pinged speeding up to 10km/h over the limit on December 3 last year – the offence attracting a $725 fine – with another $320 fine issued after a staffer was caught on January 21 disobeying a stop sign.
A staffer in Mr Minns office was also busted driving while using a mobile phone on April 4 and April 10 this year – the initial fines being $4100 – with the office receiving a third fine of $725 on April 13 for speeding up to 10km/h over the limit.
On May 4, a staffer in Mr Minns’ office received another fine of $136 for parking longer than allowed, and another two of the same value on June 18 and 30 for parking offences.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib’s personal driver copped an initial $2720 fine for driving through a red arrow on November 13 last year.
While former transport minister Jo Haylen’s driver copped a $275 fine on January 31 for disobeying a parking sign.
Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig’s driver was caught by camera driving up to 10km/h over the limit in a school zone.
Other ministerial drivers fined for low-level speeding offences – up to 10km/h over the limited – included those responsible for chauffeuring Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis, Education Minister Prue Car, Health Minister Ryan Park, Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington, Housing Minister Rose Jackson and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty.
The fines were paid for by the individual drivers, and not the taxpayer.
Earlier this month, Ms Catley’s ministerial driver was charged with high-range drink driving.
The 55-year-old is due to appear before Bega local court on December 23.
