Content
Jim Minns, brother of NSW Premier Chris Minns, is a respected lawyer and former industrial officer working for the Public Service Association (PSA), focusing on issues related to Corrective Services. While Jim has largely stayed out of the spotlight, recent debates over new laws concerning prison guards’ authority to determine inmate guilt have brought his role into question. The PSA, led by Stewart Little, has been lobbying Premier Minns to lower the threshold of proof for inmate misconduct from a criminal standard to the balance of probabilities, arguing this change would enhance officer safety. Labor has agreed to push the legislation through parliament despite an Ombudsman’s report revealing that guards were already applying this lower standard and that serious abuses of power had occurred.
This situation has sparked concerns over a potential conflict of interest involving the Minns brothers. According to ICAC regulations, ministers are required to disclose private relationships that could influence their official decisions. However, Chris Minns has refused to confirm whether he has declared his brother’s position, citing confidentiality of ministerial registers. When approached by the media, his office gave no comment, and the premier himself chose not to respond. This silence has raised eyebrows among political observers and integrity experts alike.
Anthony Whealy, KC and chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, criticized the premier’s refusal to address the issue, stating that a 'no comment' stance is unsatisfactory from an integrity standpoint. Whealy acknowledges the PSA’s strong lobbying influence but emphasizes that the safest course of action would be for the premier to formally declare any potential conflicts arising from his brother’s role. Even though the premier and his team argue that Jim’s employment does not constitute a conflict—since there’s no direct financial benefit and the PSA would have similar access regardless—the lack of transparency remains troubling.
Greens MP Sue Higginson believes the premier is in breach of corruption safeguards by not disclosing the relationship, especially since the new laws directly affect Jim Minns’ work. Higginson opposes the proposed changes to prisoner discipline laws, warning they could lead to harsher treatment and increased risks of deaths in custody. She calls for a broader inquiry to hear from all stakeholders, not just the PSA leadership.
The opposition has also weighed in, with industrial relations spokesman Damien Tudehope demanding that Minns clarify whether he declared the relationship or received advice against doing so. He references ICAC’s definition of close personal relationships, previously applied in the case of former premier Gladys Berejiklian, to underline the importance of disclosure in preserving public trust.
Jim Minns’ connection to the PSA became publicly known only recently, when Chris Minns mentioned it during a radio interview amid a prison worker strike. The premier admitted that his brother is deeply involved in the union’s legal battles and that they discuss these matters frequently in private. However, the blurred lines between family ties and public duty have raised questions about the premier’s ethical obligations.
While Jim Minns, as a private citizen, has every right to express his views and advocate for his union, Chris Minns, as an elected official, must adhere to a higher standard of accountability. The refusal to address potential conflicts openly risks undermining confidence in government transparency and integrity. As scrutiny intensifies from opposition parties and crossbenchers, the premier’s next move on this issue will be closely watched.
