However,other documents obtained by theHerald disclose that Ash was corresponding with lobbyist firm GRACosway on the launch of a Beam e-scooter trial in conjunction with Transport for NSW and Armidale Council – work outside the scope of DLOs. “I imagine the minister would be more than happy to feature on a media release,” he wrote on July 5.
In other emails,Ash referred to government MPs as “our Labor colleagues” and agreed to help organise a barbeque in Haylen’s Summer Hill electorate to celebrate 100 days of the Minns government.
On May 10,Ash circulated a “backflips timeline” with a list of Coalition MPs who were responsible during their time in government,including former transport minister Andrew Constance and former planning minister Rob Stokes.
Ash also emailed staff asking for “any notices of motions for our colleagues for the next fortnight of parliament” and made a range of suggestions,such as the return of the Freshwater ferries,and “maintenance/cleaning insourcing”.
Ash also drafted lines on how Haylen should respond in parliament to questions about transport from Coalition MPs,including new members,suggesting the minister say “it’s their mess we inherited[from the former government] and we were elected to fix”.
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Ash’s appointment drew the attention of then-acting transport secretary Howard Collins,internal documents previously released to parliament revealed.
An email between transport officials on July 4 showed that Collins raised concerns about Ash sticking to the boundaries of the role when Gartrell asked to extend his time in the minister’s office from three to 12 months.
“Howard raised with Scott his concerns to ensure Keiran[sic] adheres to the parameters of the scope of a DLO role,” the email states.
In a statement made before Gartrell’s resignation,Haylen said:“After being made aware of the existence of a number of documents,my office has subsequently written to the Secretary of Transport for NSW to request that the department look into whether some actions conducted by a DLO in the minister’s office were in line with their employer obligations.
“It is clear that the practice of requesting Departmental Liaison Officers from TfNSW,whilst not against the rules,has created questions around the role of DLOs and their relationship with the ministerial office,” Haylen’s statement said.
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Haylen has asked her department head to investigate Ash. However,the minister was forced to write to Murray on Friday in his “employer capacity for all necessary action” after the release of the emails indicated that he may have broken the rules of his employment.
The opposition seized on the latest revelations engulfing Haylen and said the investigation into Ash should be conducted by the Public Service Commissioner Kathrina Lo,not Murray.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said,“the investigation is nothing more than an attempt to throw a junior staffer under the bus to protect a minister.”
“Does any reasonable person think Josh Murray,the minister’s handpicked secretary is really going to find the minister committed any wrongdoing?,” Ward said.
“A controversially Labor appointed secretary is investigating the minister who got him the job regarding an operative her office requested doing political activities – it doesn’t pass the pub test.”
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