‘Too many grey areas’: Minns moves swiftly on ministerial car use after Jo Haylen resignation

Ministerial drivers and cars can no longer be used for “exclusively private purposes” as the NSW Premier moves swiftly in the wake of Jo Haylen’s resignation amid her chauffeur scandal.

Premier Chris Minns has cracked down on the use of ministerial cars, immediately banning the use of government drivers for “exclusively private purposes”.

In a statement after Jo Haylen resigned as Transport Minister on Tuesday afternoon amid a goverment car use scandal, Mr Minns said Ms Haylen made an “error of judgement,” but said there were “too many grey areas where private and public uses (of drivers) blur”.

“Jo has paid a high price for that,” he said.

“While private use of Ministerial drivers has been permitted under longstanding rules, community expectations and standards rightly do not match these rules.”

Those rules will now be changed, “effective immediately,” with drivers only to be used for official business purposes or private use “incidental” to official duties.

Premier Chris Minns says Ms Haylen has paid a high price for her “error of judgment”. Picture Thomas Lisson

Roads Minister John Graham will replace former Transport Minister Jo Haylen on an “interim basis” from Friday.

Mr Minns thanked Haylen for her services as minister.

Jo Haylen announces her resignation. Picture: Ted Lamb

Rose Jackson joined the winery tour and lunch. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“She has worked very hard to help finish the largest public transport projects in Australia’s history, including City Metro, starting the South West Metro conversion, conducting a vital maintenance program on our trains and started the process of building trains in NSW again.”

Meanwhile, it’s the second cabinet minister caught up in the “chauffeur scandal” — Mental Health and Housing Minister Rose Jackson, who

travelled with Haylen to the Australia Day weekend winery lunch — is yet to deliver a statement on the scandal, but it is understood she has no plans to resign her ministerial portfolios.

‘RIGHT CALL’: SPEAKMAN

Opposition leader Mark Speakman said Ms Haylen “made the right call” to resign, but criticised the Premier for waiting three days before taking action.

“This wasn’t Chris Minns taking decisive action — this was three days of weak leadership, excuses and political protection before Ms Haylen finally fell on her sword,” he said.

“This is because Jo Haylen isn’t just any minister - she was one of Chris Minns’ key left faction allies. The Premier wanted her in cabinet to keep his own job secure.

“Even when the facts were undeniable, even when new revelations kept emerging.”

— with Newswire