Premier Chris Minns drawn into probe over extraordinary parliamentary leak

The Premier Chris Minns has been drawn into an investigation into who is responsible for leaking details of a parliamentary probe examining the proposed Rosehill sale.

Premier Chris Minns has become embroiled in a top-secret probe into whether someone broke parliamentary rules by leaking sensitive information about a corruption referral to the media.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that one of parliament’s most powerful committees tried to haul in the Premier to answer questions about whether he was involved in leaking information from a parliamentary inquiry to the media, before its report was made public.

But the bid to summon Mr Minns to the Upper House’s Privileges Committee was blocked by government members, leading to accusations in parliament that Labor was running a “protection racket” for a member of the government.

The Privileges Committee is investigating whether any parliamentary rules were broken when details of a parliamentary inquiry’s report on the sale of Rosehill racecourse were leaked.

Those leaks suggested the committee was going to refer the Premier to the Independent Commission Against Corruption over his involvement in the proposed sale.

Premier Chris Minns in parliament. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

As part of that Committee’s investigation, the committee’s four Opposition and cross bench members tried to call Mr Minns in for questioning.

The government’s four members blocked the attempt.

With the vote locked, the committee chair – Mr Lawrence – used his casting vote to prevent Mr Minns from being called.

Privileges Committee Chair Stephen Lawrence sparked uproar among Opposition and crossbench MPs when he used his casting vote to break a deadlock in a committee vote. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

In an extraordinary fallout, parliament on Wednesday voted to strip the government of one of its positions on the Privileges Committee, to ensure that Labor members cannot block votes on party lines.

Debate exploded in parliament on Wednesday night when Liberal Natasha McLaren-Jones moved a motion to change the Privileges Committee’s membership.

Government leader Penny Sharpe accused Ms McLaren-Jones of taking a “nuclear step” in trying to resolve a committee dispute, while Treasurer Daniel Mookhey accused the Opposition of using the Privileges Committee to “harass the government of the day”.

An investigation was launched into who leaked details of a committee inquiry examining the Rosehill sale. Photo Jeremy Piper

Independent MP Rod Roberts told parliament the Privileges Committee’s investigation into the Rosehill inquiry leak was designed to target his cross bench colleague Mark Latham, before “assertions” were cast on another MP.

That member, who Mr Roberts did not name, was the Premier himself.

In parliament, Mr Latham accused Labor members of using the committee to run a “protection racket for a member of the Executive Government,” which he said was “shameful”.

The Rosehill Inquiry referred its report to ICAC, which said there was no “reasonable likelihood” of corrupt conduct. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Ultimately, the committee resolved to refer its report to ICAC, rather than the Premier himself.

ICAC looked into the report but decided not to conduct a full investigation as there was not a “reasonable likelihood of corrupt conduct occurring”.

The Privileges Committee is one of parliament’s most powerful bodies, with the power to haul sitting members in front of secret inquiries to investigate any rule breaches.

It is highly unusual for details of the committee’s work to be made public.

ATC members voted down the sale of Rosehill Racecourse on Tuesday. Photo Jeremy Piper

Leaking the contents of parliamentary inquiry reports before they are tabled is strictly against the rules.

Privileges committee chair Stephen Lawrence said it was “unfortunate” that a split vote required him to use his casting vote, but said he was “confident” the committee would continue to function “well”.

“As the matter before the committee is confidential I can’t make any further comment,” he said.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Premier said: “The Premier or the Premier’s office did not leak details of the Rosehill committee inquiry report - nor did it have details of it - to Channel 7.”

Originally published as Premier Chris Minns drawn into probe over extraordinary parliamentary leak