Jo Haylen quits after using government chauffeur for winery trips

Jo Haylen, forced to admit she used her private ministerial driver for a trip with her husband to a Hunter Valley winery, resigned as Transport Minister on Tuesday during crisis talks with Premier Chris Minns.

Jo Haylen’s ministerial career has been run off the road by a humble Kia Carnival.

Premier Chris Minns lost one of his closest cabinet allies on Tuesday and now faces a crucial cabinet reshuffle as parliament resumes for the year.

Ms Haylen was forced to admit yesterday that she used her private ministerial driver for a trip with her husband to a Hunter Valley winery, offering her resignation to the Premier during crisis talks at the government’s Martin Place offices.

Her admission about the trip with her husband comes after The Sunday Telegraph broke the “Van Haylen” scandal in which Ms Haylen summoned her driver from Sydney to Caves Beach to take her and four others, including Housing Minister Rose Jackson, in a Kia Carnival eight-seater van to a boozy winery lunch in the Hunter Valley on the Australia Day weekend.

Mr Minns has now banned ministers from using their taxpayer-funded chauffeurs for “exclusively private purposes” in a crackdown to reflect “community expectations”.

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

Ministers will only be able to use their drivers for official business or private purposes “incidental” to official duties.

Ms Haylen’s resignation is a major blow to the Premier, who began the day standing by one of his closest allies.

Her departure leaves a gaping hole in Mr Minns’ frontbench.

While prone to controversy, Ms Haylen was considered by colleagues to be one of Labor’s strongest performers on the floor of parliament.

She leaves the massive transport portfolio with a union pay deal still unresolved, with unions threatening to launch more action over a 32 per cent pay claim.

In announcing her resignation, Ms Haylen confirmed she had used her ministerial driver for another trip to the Hunter Valley with her husband last year.

Mr Minns had earlier said Ms Haylen had assured him the boozy Australia Day weekend lunch last month was a one-off. “I asked if there was other examples, and the media did too, and I was told … the answer is no,” he told 2GB radio on Monday.

Ms Haylen insisted she was “working” on the day in question but conceded using her driver was an “error”.

Jo Haylen announces her resignation. Picture: Ted Lamb

Ms Jackson is not accused of breaching ministerial rules in relation to the trip.

The Telegraph also revealed Ms Haylen was repeatedly driven from Caves Beach to Sydney to take her child to Saturday sport, which she said occurred on the way to and from work engagements.

She was also driven from Sydney to Little Hartley in the Blue Mountains for a lunch at her then-chief of staff’s property, which she said was for work.

“I did not break the rules, but I acknowledge that that’s not the only test here. I’ve let the public down, and I’m very sorry for that,” she said when announcing her resignation.

“My mistakes are now causing the government damage.”

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

Ms Haylen said she had worked her “arse off” since being appointed a minister, which she said was a 24/7 job.

“You don’t clock out from being a minister, you work every single minute of the day, just like you don’t clock out from being a mum,” she said.

“Combining those roles is difficult, but I’m not alone in that challenge.”

She said she’d continue in politics, as Labor sources suggested the resignation would not mark the end of her career.

Before the second winery trip was revealed, Mr Minns said Ms Haylen had made a “massive lapse” in judgement, but didn’t sack her.

How the Telegraph broke, and continued to roll out fresh revelations, in the Jo Haylen scandal. Pictures: The Daily Telegraph

Yesterday he said Ms Haylen had not broken any “longstanding rules”, but those rules needed to change.

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

The Premier must now fill one of the government’s most crucial portfolios, at a time when a major industrial dispute remains unresolved.

Ms Haylen on her way to work on Tuesday.

She resigned at 2pm on Tuesday.

Roads Minister John Graham will be sworn in as interim Transport Minister on Friday. Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison will act in the role until then.

However, finding a permanent replacement will be more difficult.

The Transport portfolio will require a senior minister to move from their existing role.

Mr Graham was touted as a potential permanent successor by Labor MPs last night.

“John is the obvious answer,” one Labor source said.

A junior minister could then take some of Mr Graham’s other portfolios, like Tourism or the Night-Time economy.

The Premier will also face a factional fight if he moves to promote someone from the backbench to fill the hole.

Ms Haylen is from Labor’s left which will want one of their own to replace her.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Toby Warnes said he had high expectations on any incoming Transport Minister to get a wage deal done.

“There’s no question that the role of Transport Minister in NSW is an incredibly challenging one,” he said.

“The incoming Transport Minister will have a significant challenge on their hands. So far, the NSW Labor Government is yet to show any vision or ambition in the public transport space.

“If it is serious about fixing transport in this state, it needs to start now.”

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Originally published as Jo Haylen quits after using government chauffeur for winery trips