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Parliamentary report into Rosehill redevelopment referred to corruption watchdog

The final report from a parliamentary inquiry into the NSW government’s proposal to redevelop Rosehill Racecourse into a housing precinct has been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Premier Chris Minns has not been personally referred to the corruption watchdog despite reports earlier this week that he would be.A motion put to the committee by independent MP Mark Latham to refer the premier was comprehensively knocked back, with all nine other members of the inquiry voting against it.The referral to ICAC doesn’t mean the report will be investigated by the anti-corruption watchdog – it will decide whether to launch an inquiry after receiving the referral itself. 

Parliamentary report into Rosehill redevelopment referred to corruption watchdog

The report into the Rosehill Racecourse redevelopment proposal has been referred to ICAC. (Rhett Wyman/SMH)On Wednesday Minns pre-empted the announcement and labeled the decision “completely unsubstantiated”, “disgraceful” and an “old-fashioned smear” in a statement last night, and said yesterday said there was no evidence behind the referral.However, the final report still accused Minns of failing to declare a conflict of interest.It said a meeting between Minns and his long-time friend Steve McMahon, the head of membership and corporate affairs at the Australian Turf Club, which owns the Rosehill site, was inappropriately disclosed in the premier’s diary as a “meet and greet”.”(This) was inaccurate, misleading and did not adequately describe the purpose of this meeting,” the committee said in a statement released this afternoon. “It was inappropriate given the long-standing friendship of Mr McMahon and the Premier and the nature of the matter discussed at the meeting.” The committee also found the government’s announcement of the Rosehill proposal was “in breach of governmental guidelines on unsolicited proposals by failing to maintain impartiality when it championed the proposal”. “Throughout the inquiry there was significant conflicting information that was presented to the committee, which asked more questions than it answered,” committee chair Scott Farlow said. “Given the nature of the conflicting evidence that the committee received and unanswered questions before the committee with respect to concerns regarding direct dealings and conflicts of interest, the committee has taken the step of referring this report to the ICAC.”

Parliamentary report into Rosehill redevelopment referred to corruption watchdog

Chris Minns has been referred to the anti-corruption watchdog over a diary disclosure. (Flavio Brancaleone/SMH) However, the three Labor MPs on the committee dissented against the referral, hitting out at any finding against Minns and describing the decision to send the report to the ACA as “farcical”. “If the Committee has unanswered questions regarding the Premier’s involvement, it must be because these questions were unasked,” Bob Nanva, Sarah Kaine, Peter Primrose wrote. “The premier’s chief of staff answered all questions, including supplementary questions, that were put to him.” “It’s farcical to suggest that ICAC would not be aware of this report and that ICAC would therefore need it referred,” they added.”This inquiry has been the subject of significant media attention, and not only is the report publicly available, it’s widely distributed with an accompanying media release.”We believe that the only logical explanation for the referral is that it has possibly been calculated to cause politics damage.”, describing it as politically motivated and unfounded, and categorically denying any corrupt conduct.”It is truly undermining the principles of investigation and the Independent Commission Against Corruption to put in place unsubstantiated rumours, dress them up as a corruption allegation.. whilst providing absolutely no information, no facts, no evidence to support that exact allegation,” he said.Farlow said how news of the referral leaked to the media almost two days before it was announced will be investigated by parliament.”It is disappointing that this legitimate step of the committee was disclosed to the media prior to the tabling of this report and the committee has resolved to request the President refer this matter to the Privileges Committee,” he said.

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