NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell should explain why he let election policies be written and approved by mining and farming interest groups, the government says.
The Opposition allowed the mining industry to rewrite parts of its regional land use policy, deleting commitments to toughen regulatory compliance on miners, Fairfax reported.
The party also handed its draft policy to the NSW Farmers Association to amend.
NSW primary industries minister Steve Whan said the revelation was extraordinary.
"Mr O'Farrell must also explain why he removed key environmental protections as well as measures to ensure accountability and transparency from his land use policy," Mr Whan said in a statement on Thursday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"Everyone consults with third parties, but who lets them dictate, write and approve their policies?"
But the opposition says the reports are misleading and inaccurate.
"The article relies upon two documents out of dozens of documents that have been in circulation over the past 12 months," the opposition said in a statement.
"The documents referred to are merely working documents for the purposes of consultation."
The reports will be proven to be wrong when the party releases its Strategic Regional Land Use Planning Policy in the coming weeks, it said.
