NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has denied pushing through a Sydney Water deal for a company linked to Eddie Obeid, saying the state is suffering "scandal starvation" after years of Labor corruption.
He also said the corruption watchdog hadn't sought to interview him over the claims.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is reportedly set to investigate a $100 million dollar contract awarded by Sydney Water in 2012.
Mr O'Farrell and former finance minister Greg Pearce met in August 2011 with Nick Di Girolamo, a Liberal donor whose company, Australian Water Holdings, subsequently sealed a 25-year contract to build water infrastructure at Rouse Hill.
But Mr O'Farrell says the meeting was reported in February this year and that it was perfectly proper for him to meet with businessmen.
"My government ensured that we did not interfere with this process (of awarding the contract)," he told reporters.
"Australian Water were told it would be inappropriate for us to involve ourselves."
Former Labor powerbroker Mr Obeid, who was found guilty of corruption by the ICAC last month, held secret shares in Australian Water Holdings.
Labor used question time on Thursday to grill the premier.
Opposition leader John Robertson hinted at interference from people connected to Mr Pearce, the recently sacked finance minister.
"Can you explain why Sydney Water changed its previous position and awarded a $100 million contract to Australian Water Holdings within a month of Greg Pearce's mate Richard Fisher and Liberal party donor Bruce Morgan being appointed to the board of Sydney Water," he asked.
To which the premier replied: "There is no connection between the commercial decision made by Sydney Water and any meeting with the government."
Mr O'Farrell also said there was "no scandal here, no inappropriate action".
"What we do have here is scandal starvation," he said.
"They got so used to scandals by those opposite that they are always looking for them."
Meanwhile, Sydney Water managing director Kevin Young has confirmed the utility's chairman, Thomas Parry, received a letter from Liberal powerbroker Arthur Sinodinos when he was chairman of Australian Water.
It was reported on Thursday that the letter was sent in 2011 and copied to the premier.
"The NSW government position (was) that it was a matter to be dealt with solely by Sydney Water corporation and its board," Mr Young told a budget estimates hearing on Thursday.
Earlier, Mr O'Farrell told reporters he had no concerns about corruption in his own ranks and he didn't believe the ICAC held any such concerns.
The premier couldn't say whether he had attended Liberal party fundraisers at which Mr Di Girolamo was present but said he occasionally ran into him at the footy.
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