Claims of a conflict of interest in connection to the redevelopment of Sydney’s Rosehill Gardens Racecourse have been dismissed by NSW Premier Chris Minns.
An inquiry by a NSW parliamentary select committee into the deal – which will see the iconic track become a $5 billion housing hub comprising of 25,000 homes – has uncovered concerns over Minns’ long-term relationship with Steve McMahon, head of government relations at the Australian Turf Club, which owns the site.
The committee subsequently voted to refer Minns to the Independent Commission Against Corruption for investigation.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, Minns described the accusation as “an old-fashioned smear”. It was, he said, “a cynical attempt at political point scoring”.
The committee – chaired by a Liberal MP – consists of mainly opposition and crossbench MPs.
In the statement, Minns said the allegations are “completely unsubstantiated and based on no fact or evidence … it’s disgraceful to politicise ICAC with unsubstantiated rumours”, he added.
While previously admitting to have known McMahon “a long time”, Minns’ statement said: “There is absolutely no evidence or even an attempt to quantify what rule, practice or procedure has been breached.”
On Thursday, Minns again came out swinging, repeating the claim that ICAC had been politicised. “It is a political sport but that doesn’t make it right and I think it is a leading reason why people don’t enter politics.”
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