The NSW premier rejected suggestions his under-fire transport minister should resign, saying commuters are more concerned about trains and buses running on time.
Premier Chris Minns has defended under siege Transport Minister Jo Haylen over a staffing scandal that forced the resignation of her chief of staff, saying commuters are more concerned about trains and buses running on time and that he wants her to continue in the job.Flavio Brancaleone
Speaking at a press conference in Newtown on Sunday, Minns said the “majority of people in NSW” were more concerned about whether Haylen was addressing the series of problems confronting the state’s transport system. “Now, I appreciate that things could have been done better with personal staff, but I think a reasonable person will say I want her focusing on lifting the on-time running rate for trains and buses so I can get home and see my family on time, rather than focusing on this particular issue,” he said.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen with Kieren Ash, who is sitting with a dog, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese the morning after the federal election last year.Minns repeatedly referred to Ash, a well-known Labor figure in Sydney’s inner-west and bureaucrat in the NSW Department of Transport, as a “relatively junior staffer” operating in an office of over 15 employees.
“Now, that’ll be investigated. Fair enough, but … I want her in that job continuing with it. I certainly don’t want to resign,” he said.“In retrospect, the minister should have relied on the departmental secretary for staff, particularly departmental liaison staff to do that work, but I think less than word, and I’m hopeful that the minister will move on.”
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