Transport Department raised concerns over Jo Haylen’s staffer

Senior public servants raised concerns with Transport Minister Jo Haylen’s office over the political allegiances of a staff member seconded to her team, who was supposed to be in a strictly non-political role.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen during Question Time in the Legislative Assembly. She will face questions over her knowledge of actions of a staffer in her office. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Senior public servants raised concerns with Transport Minister Jo Haylen’s office over the political allegiances of a staff member seconded to her team, who was supposed to be in a strictly non-political role.

Ms Haylen on Tuesday told budget estimates – an annual grilling of Ministers by Opposition MPs - that concerns over Kieren Ash, who was seconded to her office earlier this year, were never conveyed to her over.

Mr Ash, who ran Labor’s election campaign in Balmain seven months ago, was seconded to Ms Haylen’s office in a strictly non-political role as a Department Liaison Officer (DLO).

Emails released to NSW Parliament on Friday show Mr Ash – while working for Ms Haylen - organised a barbecue celebrating Labor’s election victory, as well as instructing 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.

Ms Haylen on Tuesday said the work she knew Mr Ash was undertaking was “in line with his role”.

Jo Haylen MP Minister for Transport pictured during the transport budget estimates hearing at NSW Parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“My experience with the public servant’s work that you refer to was that it was in line with his role,” she said.

“In my experience, the work that this public servant was doing was in line with his role as a DLO and that is my experience up until those emails came to my attention last week, which I referred to his employer for investigation, as is appropriate.”

“We’ve got to remember here that we are talking about a small number of internal emails that may have blurred the lines between this public servant’s role as a DLO and their personal political views and I acknowledge his well-known personal political views.”

Howard Collins confirmed that as acting-Transport Minister earlier this year he had raised concerns over Mr Ash.

“I was given some information about the individual’s political background,” Mr Collins said.

Kieren Ash said he was responsible for “general mischief”.

“Certainly in July when the extension was made, concerns were raised and I think people have cited emails which I said I would speak to (Ms Haylen’s) chief of staff.

“I thought it was appropriate…to just make sure that the individual did keep to those roles, which he signed for in terms of being a DLO…(I had) concerns about the work that he was doing that was not within the confines of the DLO role.”

Chief of Staff of Transport for NSW Susan Carroll added she has raised the issue with Ms Haylen’s chief of staff.

“It was general information had been put to me so I raised with the minister’s Chief of Staff and sought assurance that he would review the tasking to ensure compliance with the apolitical role of our DLOs,” she said.

Ms Haylen said their concerns weren’t relayed to her by her chief of staff, Scott Gartrell, who resigned on Friday.

“I would…say that the public servants evidence here today was not conveyed to me,” she said.

Mr Collins later said his “concerns (over Mr Ash) were about perhaps, his behavior or him straying into areas which were not in the DLO (remit)”.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward pictured during the transport budget estimates hearing at NSW Parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Minns: Transport Minister ‘didn’t know’ staffer broke rules

Earlier, Premier Chris Minns has refused to ask one of his most senior Ministers whether she knew a public servant on loan to her office was breaking the rules.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen is set to be probed in a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday over whether she knew a bureaucrat seconded into her office was doing political work – something he was prohibited from doing.

The public servant, former Labor candidate Kieran Ash, was loaned to Ms Haylen’s office shortly after the election. He was still being paid by the public service.

Emails tendered to parliament show that Mr Ash helped organise a barbecue to thank Labor supporters who helped on Ms Haylen’s campaign for Summer Hill.

Chris Minns has repeatedly defended Ms Haylen. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Jo Haylen Minister for Transport pictured during the transport budget estimates hearing at NSW Parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

As The Daily Telegraph revealed on Monday, Mr Ash suggested he was responsible for “general mischief” in the office.

Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday said Ms Haylen had no idea Mr Ash had helped organise the barbecue.

“In relation to the barbecue, of course she didn’t know, and I don’t think it’s reasonable for the Minister for Transport to know everything that a junior staff member would be doing,” he told 2GB.

Ms Haylen has refused to rule out whether she was aware Mr Ash had undertaken political work while in her employment, and whether she personally requested Mr Ash work in her office.