NSW Premier Chris Minns says he has "absolutely" only had appropriate dealings with a friend and racing executive as a controversial plan to tear up a historic racetrack hangs by a thread.
The premier on Monday stressed all the facts were not yet on the table about the $5 billion bid to transform Rosehill Racecourse into thousands of homes, days after racing royalty and leaders publicly opposed the plan.
An inquiry has heard suggestions the idea to sell the 139-year-old track was "driven, at least in part" by the Minns government after owner Australian Turf Club (ATC) in October 2023 said it had no plans to relocate.
The unsolicited proposal was unveiled with fanfare in December as a major plank in the government's solution to the ongoing housing crisis.
ATC executive Steve McMahon, a long-time friend of the premier, played a key role in the proposal's development.
Underlining the idea to sell Rosehill was "not brand new", Mr Minns said his dealings with Mr McMahon had only been proper.
"If there's a suggestion otherwise, I would think it'd be incumbent upon someone to make that charge," the premier told reporters on Monday.
"Ultimately, this is being handled as an unsolicited proposal by the Cabinet Office."
ATC members remained the decision-makers, he said urging them to wait for all the facts about the potential deal to be available.
"The process, where it's up to at the moment, has been handled completely appropriately," Mr Minns said.
Mr McMahon has underlined he always acted in the best interests of ATC and its members.
"Not just because it's my job but because I want to see the ATC and racing thrive in years to come," he said on Friday.
"At this stage there is not enough information for an informed decision to be made (by members)."
Once that information comes to light in coming months, members are due to vote on the redevelopment, which includes shifting training facilities west and bringing ageing suburban tracks Canterbury and Warwick Farm into the 21st century.
Rosehill meanwhile, one of the last major greenfield sites in Sydney, could host up to 25,000 homes and an underground metro station.
Shifting racing from the 139-year-old site has met fierce opposition including from Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller who labelled it "fanciful".
"Once Rosehill is gone western Sydney has lost one of its greatest community attractions," the champion trainer told a parliamentary inquiry on Friday.
Based on his discussions with members, ATC deputy board chairman Timothy Hale said he expected "a substantial majority" would vote against the sale.
The senior counsel specialising in property development law also cast doubt on the deal delivering a projected $5 billion windfall.
Club chair Peter McGauran stood by that figure while a property investment firm board member told the inquiry up to $20 billion could be realised depending on how the site was developed.
