Appointment of former Labor staffer as NSW transport chief labelled ‘breathtaking hypocrisy’

Jo Haylen says Josh Murray was her ‘preferred candidate’ for transport secretary. The government says ministers have the right to select department heads. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

The opposition has accused the New South Wales government of “breathtaking hypocrisy” after it appointed a former Labor staffer as the transport secretary following the intervention of the minister, Jo Haylen.

Haylen this week revealed she picked Josh Murray for the senior role heading the transport department. Murray worked as a Laing O’Rourke executive after serving as chief of staff to the former Labor premier Morris Iemma. Haylen’s office had intervened to have Murray added to a shortlist of candidates for the top job.