NSW government won’t guarantee that Rosehill sale needs ATC members’ support

The NSW government has cast doubts on whether Australian Turf Club (ATC) members will have the final say on the future of Rosehill as it confirmed it had received an unsolicited proposal from the ATC for the controversial sale of the racecourse.

A series of questions were put to NSW Upper House leader Penny Sharpe in her capacity as representative of Premier Chris Minns on March 26 from independent upper house MP Mark Latham.

Latham asked if the government would “insist that this vote is taken, rather than the Australian Turf Club handing over the project to Racing NSW, through the Trustee and Racing NSW exercising its power under the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Act to sell Rosehill without reference to the Australian Turf Club membership?”

The written reply by Sharpe on behalf of the Premier was published on Friday.

In contrast to comments made by Minns earlier this year, the response said it would be left to the ATC to decide if a membership vote was needed to proceed with the sale that could net the club up to $5 billion.

“The Australian Turf Club – as the landowner of Rosehill Racecourse – will make its own decisions related to the consultations it needs to undertake with its membership,” the response said.

Minns had previously said in parliament that “this was up to the ATC and the members of the ATC to decide, not the NSW government”.

“We see it as a real opportunity for Rosehill racecourse, for the ATC, for racing in the state, as well as housing, but that decision will have to be decided by members of the ATC,” he said in February.

“The Australian Turf Club – as the landowner of Rosehill Racecourse – will make its own decisions related to the consultations it needs to undertake with its membership.” – NSW government.

Latham also tabled a series of questions regarding Racing NSW’s involvement in the process, especially in the due diligence around the potential sale and redevelopment.

These questions had also been taken on notice but were not specifically answered in the reply.

Latham also asked about the progress of the unsolicited proposal for the redevelopment and possible closure of Rosehill racecourse, where it was confirmed that it had been received on March 28, two days after the questions were initially asked.

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The StraightBren O’Brien

That was 122 days after the press conference where Minns and ATC chairman Peter McGauran had announced the Rosehill proposal.

“Investment NSW received a Stage 1 Unsolicited Proposal from the Australian Turf Club on 28 March 2024,” the government responded.

“It will now be assessed by departments against set criteria and will be subject to strict probity measures – as it should be.

“Any proposals that are submitted are kept confidential at Stage 1 of the assessment process. They are assessed under the USP guidelines against set criteria.”

The response said proposals are assessed by Investment NSW based on the key criteria of uniqueness, value for money, whole of government impact, return on investment, capability and capacity, affordability and risk allocation.