Premier Chris Minns to be referred to corruption watchdog as major scandal engulfs the NSW Government

NSW Premier Chris Minns has been referred Independent Commission Against Corruption.

It’s in relation to a multimillion dollar deal to turn Rosehill Racecourse into a housing development.

The unsolicited proposal to turn Rosehill racecourse into 25,000 homes was reportedly fast-tracked via an informal meet and greet between Mr Minns and Australian Turf Club Head of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Steve McMahon.

Mr McMahon has been described as an old friend of the premier’s.

A parliamentary committee looking into the deal has voted to refer the rushed project, which hasn’t even had full architectural drawings made, to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog. 

‘The committee is of the view that the premier should have declared a conflict of interest especially in light of the ICAC ruling on Operation Keppel,’ the committee’s report read.

Operation Keppel refers to the ICAC finding that former Liberal NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian engaged n serious corrupt conduct with her then lover former Liberal MP Darryl Mcguire. 

The scandal forced Ms Berejiklian to step down as premier and to exit politics altogether.

It will be up to ICAC to decide whether the friendship between Mr Minns and Mr McMahon has improperly influenced the Rosehill redevelopment.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest wrongdoing on behalf of either Mr Minns or Mr McMahon.  

More to come.