[11] In July 2023, Haylen faced criticism and controversy regarding her failure to disclose a perceived conflict of interest in connection with the appointment of Josh Murray as Secretary of Transport for NSW.

During the appointment process, an external recruitment consulting agency involved in the short-listing stage assessed that Murray "had not demonstrated the level of operational complexity required for this role".

Despite that assessment, Murray was short-listed for the position, with emails released to a parliamentary inquiry showing a reported intervention from Haylen's office.

The role of a departmental liaison officer traditionally entails being apolitical and facilitating communication between ministers and public service department staff.

Ash faced accusations of organising a barbecue for NSW Labor volunteers following the 2023 state election and compiling a list of political reversals by the outgoing Coalition government.

[17] Haylen consistently maintained that there was no impropriety from her office and continued to receive support from Premier Chris Minns, who rejected calls for her removal from her ministerial position.

[18] In January 2025, Haylen was criticised after it emerged that she had ordered a taxpayer-funded ministerial driver and car to travel on a 446-kilometre round-trip from Sydney to her holiday home on the Central Coast, and chauffeur her and a group of friends including Minister Rose Jackson, to a winery for a birthday lunch on the Australia Day long weekend.