Ace Breaking News – In short, the ABC understands NSW Premier Chris Minns will be referred to the state’s corruption watchdog over his relationship with one of the key figures behind the redevelopment of Rosehill Racecourse. The decision concerns Mr Minns’s relationship with Steve McMahon, head of government relations at the Australian Turf Club, which owns the site.
NSW Premier Chris Minns to be referred to ICAC over relationship with key figure behind redevelopment of Rosehill Racecourse, ABC understands
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The parliamentary committee looking at the development proposal is due to release its report on Friday.
The ABC understands NSW Premier Chris Minns will be referred to the state’s corruption watchdog over his relationship with one of the key figures behind the redevelopment of the Rosehill Racecourse.
The parliamentary committee looking at the development proposal has voted to make the referral in its report which will be released on Friday.
The decision concerns Mr Minns’s relationship with Steve McMahon, head of government relations at the Australian Turf Club (ATC).
The premier previously acknowledged that he had known Mr McMahon for more than 20 years, during a budget estimates hearing in June.
He was asked at the hearing who came to him with the proposal to redevelop the racecourse.
“It would’ve been — I can’t remember his position — but Steve McMahon at the ATC,” Mr Minns said at the time.
“I have known him for a long time.”
Rosehill Racecourse has been the centre of controversy following the development proposal. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)normal
Mr Minns said the matter was not “outrageous”.
“Obviously, when you’re in government, people come to you and say, ‘Look, we’ve got an idea. We think this would be good for our organisation’,” he said.
“They might make a pitch that it’d be good for the state as well.”
Mr Minns said he made the announcement about the redevelopment “not long” after Mr McMahon approached him.
The premier’s office has been contacted for comment.
The project would convert the track into 25,000 homes
The controversial Rosehill redevelopment would see the historic Parramatta track converted into 25,000 new homes in a bid to “re-shape Sydney”.
Mr Minns has continued to defend the proposal and previously said Sydney would be “stuck in the mud” if institutions like the ATC were not open to change.
When it was announced in December last year, a spokesperson for Mr Minns said it was the “biggest thing we will ever do as the government. If this comes off, put it that way”.
High-profile racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse has previously testified the racing industry is “incensed” by the plan and said she was confident that ATC members would never agree to the sale when it goes to a vote.
Sydney trainers Gai Waterhouse and John O’Shea spoke at the state parliament hearing into the Rosehill racecourse development proposal. (ABC News: Nick Dole)normal
In July, she told the parliamentary inquiry into the racing industry the ATC had no right to agree to the sale without a vote from its members, who she said would never sell the historic race track.
“We would not be here today to discuss the sale of the cricket ground the SCG, or Bondi Beach, but yet we are here to discuss the sale of Rosehill,” Ms Waterhouse told the inquiry.
“The members are who own Rosehill. If they put it to the members now for a vote, it would be overwhelmingly against the sale.”
The ATC maintains it has the right to agree to the sale.
Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys also gave evidence at the inquiry, and faced off against independent MP Mark Latham amid a number of allegations including that Racing NSW intended to keep the money from the sale of the site for themselves, which Mr V’landys denied.
NSW Racing boss Peter V’landys also spoke at the inquiry. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)normal
Mr V’landys told the inquiry the regulator did not intend to keep the money but wanted there to be impendent oversight of how it is spent by the ATC.
“We wanted oversight to make sure they are spending the money on racing infrastructure,” he said.
“We didn’t want the money spent on members’ indulgences like ski chalets and resorts in Fiji and resorts in Paris.”
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