‘We will live with the consequences’ – Minns won’t move to compulsorily acquire Rosehill

NSW Premier Chris Minns has ruled out compulsorily acquiring Rosehill racecourse, should Australian Turf Club members vote against its sale at next week’s extraordinary general meeting.

Minns was asked by opposition leader Mark Speakman during question time on Thursday if the Premier or anyone else from his government had suggested to the ATC it was willing to purchase Rosehill for the slated $5 billion.

Minns didn’t answer that question categorically, but did say no set figure had been discussed.

“The government has not entered into any agreement or negotiation with the ATC about a sale price,” he said.

“For ATC members, this gives the leadership of the organisation guidance as to the figure that ATC members would sell the racecourse for. It does not bind the NSW government to anything.

“We have to enter negotiations with them if that vote gets up. But this is a matter for ATC members. They have to make the decision.”

He also denied there was any alternative plans to compulsorily acquire the site, something it was legally allowed to do, but had previously ruled out.

“It would be on the table for us to compulsorily acquire the course under eminent domain and take it from the organisation, but we are not doing that,” he said.

“We made it clear from the very beginning that this must be led by ATC members. They have to make the decision on it, and we will live with the consequences.”

He said the housing crisis facing Sydney required a degree of risk, and there was a chance that members could reject the proposal and leave the government without a Rosehill solution.

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The StraightBren O’Brien

“There is no guarantee it will get up. The vote is by all members of the ATC. I do not have an indication as to whether it is going to pass or not,” he said. 

“But I have to say I think all members of this House have to take more of a risk when it comes to housing and development in Sydney.”.

Pressed again by Speakman to answer specifically whether any agreement at all had been made to acquire Rosehill already, Minns again went on the attack.

“I am not trying to mislead the House. I think his government, when it was in office, was too meek and timid when it came to new housing in Sydney,” Minns said.

“It is one of the reasons why Sydney is the second most expensive city on earth. It is one of the reasons why the median house price in Sydney is $1.6 million.”

An informed decision? The questions ATC members still want answered ahead of the Rosehill vote

While the Australian Turf Club has sent out its case for its members to vote on the sale of Rosehill racecourse, a host of questions remain unanswered. The Straight asked chairman Peter McGauran many of these in a detailed interview.

The StraightBren O’Brien

The ATC has featured several times in the discussions of NSW parliament this week with the Upper House passing a motion on Wednesday that the re-appointment of David McGrath to the ATC board be investigated by the Premier’s department.

It concerns whether McGrath’s re-appointment as an independent director constitutes a vacancy or not, and whether racing minister David Harris should have convened an independent selection panel.

The motion, brought forward by independent MP and ardent ATC critic Mark Latham, and supported by the opposition, passed 21-13.  

Earlier on Wednesday, the Upper House passed another motion, concerning the production of documents by Racing NSW under standing order 52.

Latham has brought forward this motion four times over the past six months, but Racing NSW has resisted the move, citing legal advice.