NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen has agreed to repay the cost of a taxpayer-funded driver she used for a private trip during the Australia Day long weekend. While the use of government vehicles for private purposes is allowed under Ministerial guidelines, Ms. Haylen acknowledged that the trip did not meet public scrutiny and has committed to repaying the expenses.
NSW transport minister Jo Haylen has agreed to repay the cost of a taxpayer-funded driver she used to attend a private event on the Australia Day long weekend.Ms Haylen said although ministers are allowed to use government vehicles for private transport, her trip did not 'pass the pub test'.\NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen has agreed to pay back the cost of a taxpayer-funded car she used to travel to a private event with friends on the Australia Day long weekend.
According to official log books, the 446-kilometre round-trip had the driver travel from Sydney to her home on the Central Coast and back. The chauffeur left from Sydney in a Kia Carnival van at 8am on January 25 and did not clock off until almost 13 hours later, just before 9pm. The Ministerial Handbook states private use of the taxpayer-funded vehicles are allowed and are a 'fringe benefit' of the position. 'Minister and the leader of the opposition can use motor vehicles provided for both private and official business purposes,' it said.'Cars and drivers may be used for official and private purposes as is stated within official guidelines,' Ms Haylen said. 'I recognise however that this does not pass the pub test, and I have made arrangements to repay the money to the premiers department.'\Housing Minister Rose Jackson was also part of the group, but had no part in organising the ministerial driver. NSW opposition leader Mark Speakman said Ms Haylen showed 'utter contempt' for the taxpayer and called on her to resign. In a statement, the NSW Liberals said it was unlikely to have been 'just a quiet trip' and said Caves Beach was close to 'the Hunter Valley's best wineries and Vodka Distilleries'.Ms Haylen had not confirmed where the private event was held or what the nature of the event was.'It's not so much a question about the rules being tightened, it's about ministers acting responsibly,' Mr Tudehope said. 'This is a fundamental failure of a minister not having the perception that this was the wrong thing to do.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen Taxpayer-Funded Driver Private Trip Australia Day Ministerial Guidelines Public Scrutiny
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