Racecourse Housing Development
As The Greens transport, cities and infrastructure spokesperson I express our support for the Opposition's motion before the House. The Greens will support Standing Order 52 motions that are about government transparency, and particularly around decisions that really smell a little bit fishy. This decision is extraordinary in several ways.
Members have mentioned queries in budget estimates about who had seen or knew what about this arrangement. I find it extraordinary for the Minister for Transport to have not seen the memorandum of understanding and for the Premier to have come out on 6 December and pretty much say that this is a done deal, it is definitely going to happen and it is an unsolicited proposal. In the Premier's words, he said:
The government sees this as an opportunity to put its money where its mouth is and build more housing, close to transport links, with plenty of green space for new families.
This is exactly the type of proposal my government has been talking about over the last six months.
Members may recall it was released at the same time as the Metro West was in doubt. Then there was this big announcement as though it was the solution that had been thought about. One would have thought there would have been a bit of detail and thinking behind it—and decision‑making with integrity and transparency. Clearly, that is not what happened. I think it is clear that even members of the Government are pretty concerned about how these decisions were made.
Yes, The Greens support this motion. We look forward to the documents coming back. It is extraordinary that over the past few days the whole thing has been thrown completely in the air because it has not been thought through. Why was it an unsolicited proposal? I am interested to see where this proposal came from and why it came at that time. To be honest, I think all members are interested in that. We support the motion.
Full text of the motion:
Hon. Scott Farlow moved:
That, under Standing Order 52, there be laid upon the table of the House within 21 days of the date of passing of this resolution the following documents created since 25 March 2023, in the possession, custody or control of the Premier, the Treasurer, the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, the Minister for Transport, the Minister for Finance, Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement, and Minister for Natural Resources, the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building and Minister for Corrections, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Gaming and Racing, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research and Minister for the Central Coast, the Minister for Water, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Youth, and Minister for the North Coast, the Premier's Department, the Cabinet Office, Treasury, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Transport for NSW, Sydney Metro, the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade or Investment NSW relating to racecourse housing development proposals:
(a) all documents relating to proposals to develop Rosehill racecourse for housing;
(b) all documents relating to proposals to develop any other racecourse for housing;
(c) all documents relating to any assessment undertaken of the suitability or potential for developing any racecourse for housing;
(d) all documents relating to the impact of any proposal to develop Rosehill racecourse for housing on planning for Metro West; and
(e) any legal or other advice regarding the scope or validity of this order of the House created as a result of this order of the House.