The NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen has dismissed requires her to resign over the appointment of former Labor staffer Josh Murray to a plum $588,000 function as Secretary of Transport for NSW (TfNSW).
On Monday it was revealed Mr Murray donated $500 to Ms Haylen’s election marketing campaign about 5 months earlier than she turned minister on September 29, 2022.
A second individual linked to him, understood to be Mr Murray’s spouse additionally donated $250 on October 13 final 12 months.
The particulars have been revealed in paperwork launched to parliament of Ms Haylen’s speaking factors surrounding Mr Murray’s appointment, despatched between the workplace of the Minister and the Premier.
Asked if he had “made any donations to your campaign?” the accompanying reply states: “Yes, but they were of a non-declarable value,” earlier than the figures are listed as “donations we know of”.
The speaking factors additionally had a ready reply if the Minister was quizzed over whether or not the appointment was a “job for the boys”.
The listed reply learn: “No. This appointment comes following a market testing process in which he was put forward as one of the preferred candidates for the Minister to choose from.”
“Josh is a highly qualified leader with extensive executive experience. As Group Leader of People at Laing O’Rourke, he’s really well placed to deliver on priorities as Minister which include re-engaging our workforce and building a system that they are proud to run”.
Appearing on 2GB on Tuesday morning, Ms Haylen maintained she had achieved “nothing wrong.” The senior minister confronted a tricky grilling over why she didn’t declare the donations previous to the paperwork being publicly launched.
“What we’re talking about is a ticket to a fundraising event, six months before the election,” she mentioned.
“To say I would give a very important senior public service job to someone who gave a $500 donation is completely absurd. That beggars belief.”
Asked whether or not the escalating scandal would pressure Ms Haylen to resign from her portfolio, the Minister was firm she wouldn’t.
“No,” she informed 2GB presenter Ben Fordham.
“I’m here answering your questions and I’ll answer many questions after this, I’m sure.”
Mr Murray’s appointment has been a recurring headache for the Transport Minister, with the federal government accused of a “jobs for the boys” rent, resulting from Mr Murray’s former affiliation with the Australian Labor Party.
Mr Murray was beforehand the chief of workers to former Labor premier Morris Iemma, earlier than changing into Group Director for People and Corporate Affairs for Laing O’ Rourke – an engineering and building firm.
Ms Haylen now faces renewed pressures round her captain’s choose rent, with an higher home inquiry into Mr Murray’s appointment set to begin on Thursday.
Opposition spokesperson for transport Natalie Ward questioned whether or not Ms Haylen appropriately declared potential battle of pursuits throughout Mr Murray’s recruitment course of, and any associated correspondence between the Premier and his workplace throughout this time.
“The production of these documents will establish whether a conflict of interest was declared as required under the Ministerial Code of Conduct and if it was appropriately managed,” she mentioned.
“If appropriate steps were taken these documents should be easy to produce.”
While Premier Chris Minns has maintained the right processes have been maintained, he conceded on Monday {that a} $125,000 exterior recruitment course of was pointless.
“Well given that Mr Murray was appointed to the job, obviously we wanted to make sure that we don’t spend that money when we don’t need to,” he mentioned on 2GB.
“In retrospect it wasn’t required, that’s correct.
“If you know who you want for the position we want to make sure we’re in a position where we can appoint those senior public servants for those difficult jobs.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
