Select Committee refers Premier Minns to ICAC in ‘political stunt’ amid Rosehill furore

A select committee is set to refer Minns to the state’s corruption watchdog in what Labor has called a ‘political stunt’ over what it alleges is a conflict of interest in the government’s plans to develop Rosehill Racecourse.

NSW Premier Chris Minns during the opening remarks of the state government’s Drug Summit on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

A parliamentary committee is set to refer NSW Premier Chris Minns to the state’s corruption watchdog over failing to declare what it alleges is a conflict of interest in the government’s plans to develop Rosehill Racecourse.

In what one NSW Labor MP called a “baseless political stunt”, the committee alleged in a version of its final report that Mr Minns had alleged “unanswered questions”, given the involvement in the deal of his long-term friend and Australian Turf Club government relations head Steve McMahon.

Mr Minns has acknowledged that he had known Mr McMahon for more than 20 years during a budget estimates hearing in June.

The committee is dominated by the Liberal opposition and crossbench, all of which voted in favour of referring its report, to be tabled on Friday, to the ICAC.

Anyone can make a referral to the commission, which can then choose to investigate or not, and The Australian is not suggesting Mr Minns has acted improperly.

The ATC operates Rosehill, and the proposed development plans for the racecourse – which would turn it into a 25,000-home hub – is a key part of the government’s housing plans, and the controversial select committee has been probing the proposals since May.

Greens upper house member Cate Faehrmann moved that the committee’s report, including alleged “conflicting evidence” and “unanswered questions” surrounding the Premier and Mr McMahon’s involvement, be referred to the ICAC.

One Labor MP called the move a “political stunt” and “totally baseless”.

The Premier’s office released a statement late on Wednesday night saying the allegations were “completely unsubstantiated, and based on no fact or evidence”.

“It’s disgraceful to politicise the ICAC with unsubstantiated rumours. There is absolutely no evidence or even an attempt to quantify what rule, practice or procedure has been breached. This is an old fashioned smear from a group of politicians opposed to changes at Rosehill. But while opposing a policy may be understandable, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption is a cynical attempt at political point scoring.”

The Rosehill redevelopment would see the historic Parramatta track converted into 25,000 new homes in a bid to “reshape Sydney”.

Mr Minns has continued to defend the proposal, which has drawn anger from members of the racing industry, and warned Sydney would be “stuck in the mud” if institutions like the ATC were not open to change.

The select committee has been mired by controversy and in August chief executive of Racing NSW, Peter V’landys, accused “cheats” and “liars” within the industry of trying to “smear” him during a heated appearance at the inquiry.

Mr V’landys clashed with NSW One Nation MP Mark Latham during the hearing and accused him of trying to “bully” and “smear” him with “zero evidence” after the MP had used parliamentary privilege to accuse the racing chief of impropriety.