NSW Premier Chris Minns slams ‘corrosive’ and ‘scandalous’ ICAC listing plan, vowing not to abandon ‘crucial’ housing issue

It was reported on Wednesday that a parliamentary committee investigating the redevelopment had voted to dismiss the Prime Minister’s relationship with Stephen McMahon, head of corporate relations at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse’s parent company, the Australian Turf Club, to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

The state government announced plans in December 2023 to transform the racecourse into a mini-city of 25,000 homes with a metro station, a public park and new amenities.

On Thursday morning, Mr Minns spoke to reporters in Sydney and denounced the “outrageous” allegations made against him which were not “supported by the facts”.

Mr Minns said housing was “too crucial” an issue for his government to walk away from, particularly for young people in “expensive city” Sydney.

The NSW premier said he and his government would not be “intimidated by unfounded referrals to the ICAC” and would not prevent progress being made to meet “the most basic needs » families, “that is to say having a roof over their roof”. your head.”

Mr Minns said he would have held a meeting on a housing proposal whether it was someone he had known “for a long time” or someone he had never met before , because it was a “big and important” issue for the state.

“Frankly, if they had a proposal for 20,000 new houses in Sydney, I would meet them,” he said.

“If you look at my diary, I’ve met a lot of builders and a lot of developers, most of whom I’ve never met before, for precisely the same reason: they want to build houses for New South Wales. “

Mr Minns is accused of conflict of interest for striking a deal with Mr McMahon, whom he has known for more than 20 years, during an informal meeting.

Minutes of the committee’s deliberations last Friday, obtained by 7News, showed that opposition members and MPs voted to refer the prime minister to the ICAC.

“The committee is of the view that the Prime Minister should have declared a conflict of interest, especially in light of the ICAC decision on Operation Keppel,” the minutes reveal.

Referring to the parliamentary inquiry, Mr Minns said “any trace” of information would have emerged before this week, and added that the reason the “politicised” referral to the ICAC was made was because the commission had no “credible evidence”.

“What we’ve seen in politics for a long time, but certainly in relation to this report, is A) discrediting the idea, B) attacking the participants, C) throwing mud at the politicians,” he said. he declared.

“What if all this doesn’t work.” Allege corruption at the very end.

Mr Minns said he had been “completely frank” about his dealings with those involved at the ATC, in motor racing, as well as any other organisation, saying he had also been “completely honest” with parliamentary committees and frankly how long he had known different people.

“But the bottom line here is this, and I think your average taxpayer would look at this and ask: Is there a private benefit to anyone here?” he said.

“Even if the proposal was abandoned tomorrow, even if the government said ‘we’re not interested, we don’t think we should move forward’ or if the ATC said the same thing, to allege corruption in 2024, your average person would surely believe that someone gained or obtained a corrupt advantage.

“No one is making this allegation. And that’s what makes it so corrosive.

Mr Minns said when a parliamentary inquiry “is effectively misled” by “someone like Mark Latham”, NSW’s public integrity is compromised and corroded.

According to the Daily Telegraph, New South Wales Legislative Council member Mark Latham has disclosed details of the committee’s confidential deliberations.

Mr Minns said he had revealed the nature of his meetings with Mr McMahon in parliamentary committees and to the media.

“We were the ones who leaked this to the New South Wales public,” he said.

“The reason you know about it is because we leaked it and the reason we’re leaking it is because there was no reason to keep it hidden, to keep out of public view.

“I think it’s the cynicism of that reference that suggests something went wrong in that meeting or that there was some sort of conversation that shouldn’t have happened.”

Mr Minns first responded to the ICAC’s sacking plan on Wednesday evening, saying it was “completely disgraceful” that the corruption watchdog was being politicized with “unsubstantiated rumours”.

“There is absolutely no evidence or even an attempt to quantify what rule, practice or procedure was broken,” he said.

“This is an old-fashioned smear from a group of politicians opposed to changes in Rosehill.

“But while it may be understandable to oppose a policy, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption are a cynical attempt to score political points.”

Announcing the redevelopment proposal last year, Mr Minns claimed the $5 billion project would “reshape Sydney”.

Mr. Minns was questioned in June about who proposed the redevelopment idea to him during a budget estimates hearing.

“That would have been the case – I can’t remember his position – but Steve McMahon at ATC,” Mr Minns said at the time.

“I’ve known him for a long time.”

A report on the proposal will be delivered on Friday.

SkyNews.com.au has contacted the Prime Minister’s office and Mr Latham for comment.