Controversy has emerged around the NSW Transport Minister's Appointment of a former Labor staffer to a high-paying role.

New South Wales Transport Minister, Jo Haylen, has been called to defend her selection of Josh Murray, a former chief of staff to ex-NSW Premier Morris Iemma, as the new Transport Secretary. 

The appointment, which comes with an annual salary of nearly $600,000, has been met with scepticism due to Murray's perceived lack of experience for the high-profile position.

Government documents recently revealed that an external recruiter, NGS Global, expressed doubts about Murray's suitability for the role. The documents reportedly disclosed that NGS Global did not recommend Murray for the role in May.

The recruiter's notes from late May state that Murray's experience was largely in corporate affairs and as a chief of staff, lacking the necessary operational complexity required for the job.

Despite these concerns, Transport Minister Jo Haylen maintains that the proper hiring process was followed. 

The opposition, however, has criticised the appointment, labelling it as a “jobs for the boys” arrangement. 

In response to recruiters’ concerns, a panel of senior public servants interviewed several candidates, including Murray, and deemed him “very suitable” for the appointment. 

Still, an email attached to an external recruiter's document in late June reportedly suggested that appointing Murray would carry a “risk”, as he lacked significant strategic operational and people leadership experience.

It is alleged that Murray's credentials were a point of contention during the selection process. 

While the recruiter expressed reservations about his qualifications, other documents  reportedly show that Transport Minister Jo Haylen met with two final recommended candidates, ultimately selecting Murray over senior transport executive Benedicte Colin.

The controversy has extended to the recruitment process's cost, with Shadow Transport Minister Natalie Ward criticising the $125,000 expenditure. 

Ward accused Haylen of having pre-decided her choice for the role, thus rendering the recruitment process wasteful.

Despite the ongoing criticism, Murray defended his appointment, stating that he followed the appropriate public process and had met Haylen only a few times before being offered the role. 

He also voiced his concerns about how recruiters managed the hiring process, highlighting that his name was incorrectly spelled and that they seemed to believe he was applying for a different position.

In response to queries about his suitability for the role, Murray emphasised his 15 years of experience in infrastructure delivery across various countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, and the UK. He pointed to his leadership roles in major construction and operational projects.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen has maintained that proper recruitment processes were observed, while critics continue to argue that Murray is inadequately qualified for the position.