‘Indefensible’: Premier Chris Minns shows little support for Jo Haylen

More revelations about the Transport Minister’s liberal use of ministerial cars are a “shocker” and one particular trip is “indefensible”, the NSW Premier says.

NSW Premier Chris Minns concedes his cabinet colleague’s use of ministerial drivers for social occasions constitutes a “shocker” and has given the government a “black eye”.

“We have to do better. Clearly, the rules have been have been way too lax, but it’s not just about the rules. It’s also about judgment, judgment of ministers,” Mr Minns said on Tuesday.

Reporting from The Daily Telegraph has revealed Transport Minister Jo Haylen repeatedly tasked a taxpayer-funded driver to travel 130km, pick her up from home at Caves Beach in the Greater Newcastle area, take Ms Haylen and her children back to Sydney for the kids’ weekend sport and then drive them 130km home.

The crisis has deepened for Ms Haylen after the Telegraph reported on a 446km round trip she and Housing Minister Rose Jackson took for lunch in the Hunter Valley on January 25.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen faces criticism for her use of ministerial cars. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Speaking on radio on Tuesday morning, Mr Minns said Ms Haylen’s use of drivers had damaged the government’s reputation.

“I mean, I think this is very damaging,” Mr Minns told 2GB.

“I think it’s given us a big black eye. I think that the view from the public is that this is a shocker.”

Mr Minns explained that Ms Haylen had told him the trips from Caves Beach to Sydney were for the MP’s children’s sport, and immediately afterwards Ms Haylen went to work.

“Obviously, this is a big black mark for the government. I think you said on your program yesterday that it’s poor judgment and I can’t defend the indefensible, particularly for the Australia Day event.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns says Ms Haylen’s behaviour was not up to standard despite being technically within the rules. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Haylen and Mr Minns were both elected to the same house of parliament in the 2015 election.

Mr Minns told Ben Fordham’s 2GB program that he did not know if Ms Haylen had a driver’s licence.

After the revelation of the Hunter Valley trip was reported, Ms Haylen said she would reimburse taxpayers for the trip.

“I think that you’ve got to treat taxpayer money as if it’s your own, as if it’s precious, and secondly, there’s a matter of respect for the driver. I mean, we are the Labor Party,” Mr Minns said on Tuesday.

“I’m hopeful we can move forward and ensure that it doesn’t happen again by changing the rules.”

Mr Minns on Monday ruled out sacking Ms Haylen.

However, the rules will be changed to stamp out behaviour like Ms Haylen’s.

“We are changing the rules in NSW to ensure that it’s (ministerial cars) used for official business purposes. If it’s private use, it’s only for incidental or minor, minor parts of a minister’s job,” Mr Minns said on Tuesday.

The major portfolios – like transport – required ministers to work weekends, Mr Minns said.

The Hunter Valley trip was to Ms Haylen’s chief-of-staff’s house.

Earlier in the week, Mr Minns said Ms Haylen should keep her job as transport minister because key portfolios required “continuity” and “ministers with experience”.

Ms Haylen, Mr Minns, public service executives and the Combined Rail Unions have been deadlocked in pay negotiations for months that sparked major concerns about citywide train shutdowns over the festive period.

Ms Jackson was ferried away on the Australia Day long weekend for a surprise birthday trip.

Originally published as ‘Indefensible’: Premier Chris Minns shows little support for Jo Haylen