‘Van Haylen’ – Labor Ministers’ taxpayer-funded day trip rort
On Saturday 25 January—the day before Australia Day—while NSW families were battling rising rents, mortgage repayments, and back-to-school costs, Jo Haylen ordered a taxpayer-funded van to drive from Sydney to her holiday home in Caves Beach—where the average house price is $1.28 million—just to pick her up.
Mark Speakman
Leader of the Opposition
Damien Tudehope
Acting Shadow Minister for Transport
On Saturday 25 January—the day before Australia Day—while NSW families were battling rising rents, mortgage repayments, and back-to-school costs, Jo Haylen ordered a taxpayer-funded van to drive from Sydney to her holiday home in Caves Beach—where the average house price is $1.28 million—just to pick her up.
Not work. Not essential. Just the same old labor.
And who was in the back seat? Their mates and Rose Jackson—the same Minister who thinks rent in Sydney is $200 a week.
Meanwhile, a government driver was forced to do a 13-hour shift for their luxury. Where was the duty of care?
Would any employer—government or private—allow this?
- How exactly will Haylen “pay it back”? Has she even asked the Premier’s Department Secretary Simon Draper how this works?
- Or will the Premier’s Department be left to clean up the mess again?
- And let’s be real—this wasn’t just a quiet trip. Caves Beach is not far from the Hunter Valley’s best wineries and Vodka Distilleries.
- Was this taxpayer-funded ride part of a luxury day on the plonk?
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson had shown utter contempt for the NSW taxpayer and must resign.
"Now that they’ve been caught, Minister Haylen said she’ll ‘pay it back’—that’s not accountability, that’s an admission of guilt. And worse, they forced a government driver into a gruelling 13-hour shift,” Mr Speakman said.
Public transport has been in chaos—but the Transport Minister refuses to take a train or bus.
The mental health system is in freefall—but the Mental Health Minister is too busy enjoying her free rides.
Acting Shadow Minister for Transport Damien Tudehope said this isn’t just about failing the pub test—it’s about failing the duty-of-care test.
“They didn’t just rort the system—they endangered a government worker. A 13-hour drive is reckless and unacceptable.”
“NSW taxpayers are under massive financial pressure, but the Transport Minister treats public money like her personal Uber account. And the Mental Health Minister thinks it’s fine to tag along for the ride,” Mr Tudehope said.
This is same old Labor—entitled, wasteful, and completely out of touch.
This is a test for Chris Minns’ own standards and leadership. If Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson don’t resign, Chris Minns must sack them. No excuses, no spin—just leadership.
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