NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen has resigned from the front bench after reports of taxpayer-funded cars being used for private trips to the Hunter Valley, including a boozy winery trip with mates.
‘I have made mistakes, people aren’t perfect,’ Ms Haylen said while fronting media in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon.
‘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.
‘We were elected to be better than the last government.
‘This morning I told the premier I will resign my position as Minister for Transport. I will continue to serve the government as the member for Summer Hill.’
Ms Haylen’s private getaway to the Hunter Valley over the Day long weekend with Housing Minister Rose Jackson, their husbands, and two friends cost taxpayers $750.
Her ministerial driver waited outside as they enjoyed a three-hour lunch at fine dining restaurant The Wood.
In all, the driver worked for 13 hours, and covered 450 kilometres, as he ferried the group to and from the private event.
It happened amid an ongoing pay dispute between the NSW Government and the rail unions that has sparked train strikes and commuter chaos, with millions of Sydneysiders affected.
During her resignation speech, she also admitted to another trip last year to the Hunter Valley.
‘I want to put on the record, I did also take a trip last year with my husband to the Hunter Valley. It was not the same circumstances as on the 25th of January.
‘I was working on that day, but I acknowledge that the use of my personal driver was an error of judgement by me.’
Ms Haylen admitted on Sunday the indulgence ‘does not pass the pub test’ and promised to foot the bill, and continued in her role.
‘I made the wrong decision here. I apologise for it,’ she told reporters.
‘In this instance it’s not about the rules it’s about the public expectation which I failed to meet.’
But her contrition on Sunday did little to alleviate the political pressure upon the government, as fresh revelations about using taxpayer-funded cars surfaced.
They included a car for a family lunch west of the Blue Mountains, and for a kids’ sports run between Caves Beach and Sydney.
Earlier on Tuesday, Premier Minns said the revelations were a ‘black mark’ on the government and ‘poor judgment’ by the minister, but he would not sack her, opting instead for changing the regulations on government drivers.
But he was left gobsmacked when 2GB host Ben Fordham claimed her trip to a winery on the taxpayer’s dime was just the tip of the iceberg.
‘What are you going to do, if as I’m informed, another example comes out involving her driver that took her on another winery/wine-tasting trip last year, that lasted longer than the 13-hour trip over the Day long weekend?’ Mr Fordham asked.
‘I’m at a disadvantage, I don’t know about the circumstances in which you’re presenting them to me,’ Mr Minns replied.
‘Fair enough, you’re entitled to ask, but I don’t know. Obviously that would be very troubling.’
‘Have you checked with Jo whether there was another winery trip?’ said Mr Fordham.
‘I mean I checked whether there were other incidents or examples, as did the media, I take her at her word,’ responded Mr Minns.
Mr Fordham said he believed a new revelation may soon come to light, leaving Chris Minns visibly stunned.
‘Of course, I’d be very concerned if there was another example,’ he said.
Conservative commentator Prue Macsween told Daily Mail prior to Ms Heylan’s resignation that given the commuter chaos in Sydney, her junket to the Hunter Valley was ‘cynical and disgraceful’.
‘She’s showing contempt – she’s showing an elitist attitude,’ Ms Macsween said.
‘She’s from the socialist Left faction of the Labor Party, and here she is swanning around with no accountability to the public.
‘When Minns says she’s got a lack of judgment, well how’s her judgment on anything else? Her sense of entitlement is astounding.’
According to the official log of the Hunter Valley trip, the government-operated Kia Carnival left Sydney at 8am on January 25 to pick up Ms Haylen and her husband Garth William at their Caves Beach holiday home on the NSW Central Coast north of Sydney.
The vehicle also picked up NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson, her husband Sam Crosby and two other friends.
The group travelled to Brokenwood Estate, roughly an hour’s drive further north at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.
There, they enjoyed a three-hour lunch at the winery’s restaurant The Wood, which has a set menu of $105 per person before wines are paired.
When the lunch was finally over, the driver drove the group back to the Caves Beach house. He then drove back to Sydney and finished at 9pm.
As I said on Sunday, I have made mistakes, people aren’t perfect.
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.
We were elected to be better than the last Government.
This morning I told the Premier I will resign my position as Minister for Transport. I will continue to serve the Government as the Member for Summer Hill.
I want to put on the record, I did also take a trip last year with my husband to the Hunter Valley. It was not the same circumstances as on the 25th of January.
I was working on that day, but I acknowledge that the use of my personal driver was an error of judgement by me.
My mistakes are now causing my government damage.
Politics is tough. Expectations are very high. I know that.
From the very minute I was been appointed a Minister, I’ve worked my arse off.
You don’t switch on and off from being a Minister.
You don’t switch off being a Mum either. Combining the two can be difficult but I’m far from alone when it comes to that daily challenge.
I’ve always prided myself on trusting in people, and in the goodwill of the public I’m lucky to serve. Treating people with respect and acting with integrity. And that I am loyal, and always will be.
It kills me right now that people might think otherwise.
Government is a collective effort, and our agenda is more important that one individual.
When we came to Government we inherited a transport system on its knees.
I’m incredibly proud that we’ve managed to make public transport exciting again.
People are voting with their feet. Patronage is up.
Public transport is the great social equalizer, it allows everyone, no matter how much money you make, to get where they need to go – to get to your job, to look after your family.
Great global cities of the world have great public transport systems and Sydney is well on its way. I’m disappointed I don’t get to finish the job but I want to thank each and every member of the transport team. They are a committed workforce doing an essential job each and everyday for all of us.
They are lead by the best secretary in government Josh Murray and I thank him for everything he has done and will continue to do.
It has been a great honour to serve as senior minister in the Minns Labor government.
I want to thank the Premier for his trust in me and for his friendship.
I also want to thank my cabinet colleagues for their support.
I’ve always had the best staff in Parliament and I love them all. Thank you to my amazing Chief of Staff Kate Lee and my Deputy Mat Howard, who has loyally worked for me since 2015.
Thank you to my husband and kids, they’re going to see lots more of me now. So will the excellent people of Summer Hill. See you all soon.