Public servant Megan Bourke-O’Neil put on forced leave after Sydney train chaos

Transport for NSW Secretary Rob Sharp says a Deputy Secretary has been placed on “directed leave” for three weeks, after insiders claimed the bureaucrat had been used as a scapegoat.

A senior Transport bureaucrat directly involved in communicating with Minister David Elliott’s office about the rail shutdown has been forced to take three weeks of leave, the department boss has confirmed.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, Transport insiders have claimed that Deputy Secretary for Greater Sydney Megan Bourke-O’Neil has been sacked over her involvement in the communication breakdown which led to Sydney’s trains being cancelled with little notice last week.

Deputy Secretary for Greater Sydney Megan Bourke-O’Neil.

Transport Minister David Elliott. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Transport for NSW Secretary Rob Sharp denied that Ms Bourke-O’Neil had been sacked, but confirmed that he had “initiated” his Deputy Secretary to take three weeks of “directed leave”.

Mr Sharp said Ms Bourke-O’Neil would not be sacked when she returns from leave, but the secretary refused to say whether she would be redeployed.

Officials also refused to say why Ms Bourke-O’Neil was told to take leave at short notice.

The leave coincides with parliament’s budget estimates period, meaning Ms Bourke-O’Neil will not have to face questions from Opposition MPs over her role in the rail shutdown.

“She’s on leave, we do from time to time have executives go on leave, particularly from these large operational areas,” Mr Sharp said.

View of the entrance to Town Hall Station in the QVB during the rail shutdown. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Bourke-O’Neil is on full pay during her leave period.

Multiple sources on Monday accused Transport for NSW Secretary Rob Sharp of using Ms Bourke-O’Neil as a “scapegoat” over last Monday morning’s chaotic cancellation.

The sources suggested the Secretary should be the one to face consequences over the communication breakdown, rather than his Deputy.

Rail Tram and Bus Union NSW Secretary Alex Claassens said Transport for NSW needed to “do better” than sacking a Deputy Secretary, if that is what will occur.

“The union and the travelling public deserve an apology, not the scalp of someone we have never heard of,” he said.

Commuters at Central Station last week after Sydney’s were cancelled. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The employment of staff at Transport for NSW is a matter for the Secretary,” he said.

Ms Bourke-O’Neil has been in her role for eight months, after starting in July 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile.

The ”directed leave” comes after Premier Dominic Perrottet hauled Mr Sharp and Mr Elliott into his office for a meeting where he told the pair to establish a professional working relationship, and made it clear any decisions like cancelling the train network needed to be approved in writing.

Mr Elliott had made no secret of his dislike for Mr Sharp. Since he was appointed as Minister, Mr Elliott had been trying to sack his Departmental secretary, but had been blocked in doing so.