Why can’t Jo Haylen seem to learn her lesson?

Having a taxpayer-funded ministerial driver trek 446km to pick up Transport Minister Jo Haylen and her friends is bad enough. But what is utterly gobsmacking is that she can’t seem to learn her lesson, writes James O’Doherty.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen’s decision to hail a taxpayer-funded ministerial driver to drive 446km to pick her and her mates up from a boozy winery lunch on a public holiday is bad enough.

But what is utterly gobsmacking is that Ms Haylen cannot seem to learn her lesson.

This is not the first time Ms Haylen has been caught out making decisions a reasonable person would consider an outrage, even if they were technically within the rules.

First, there was the appointment of her old mate and former donor Josh Murray to lead her department. There is no suggestion he did not have the experience required.

Then, a Labor apparatchik was seconded into her office to work in an apolitical role (at her office’s request), only for that staffer to be caught doing political work.

The Sunday Telegraph’s revelation that Haylen got her driver to come from Rockdale to Caves Beach then take her and her mates to a winery is the most egregious lack of judgment yet.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen. Picture: Thomas Lisson

The trip was within the rules; drivers are at the beck and call of ministers.

Ms Haylen argued on Sunday that the distinction between the two was not always black and white.

That is undeniably true, but a minister organising their chauffeur to facilitate a winery lunch would never be appropriate.

Ms Haylen should have realised this when she booked the driver, in advance. Perhaps it took getting caught for the realisation to set in.

Housing Minister Rose Jackson, who was not involved in booking the trip but went along for the ride, should also have told her mate to send her driver home.

With Premier Chris Minns now vowing to crack down on the use of drivers, Ms Haylen has now opened a can of worms about what is and is not appropriate.

Ms Haylen – one of the premier’s closest allies – has survived repeated controversies scandals that would have ended any other minister.

But with Minns on Sunday declaring her actions are “clearly unacceptable”, it appears the premier’s staunch support is beginning to wane.

If only rail commuters struggling with industrial chaos could spend $750 of taxpayers’ money to get home – let alone a to and from a winery.