A SENIOR executive at James Packer's Crown Limited was allowed to rewrite a media release before it was issued by the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, announcing initial government backing of the company's plans for a $1 billion hotel and casino at Barangaroo.

The chief executive of Crown, Rowen Craigie, was emailed a draft media release by the head of Mr O'Farrell's department, Chris Eccles, on October 24, the night before Mr O'Farrell publicly announced Crown's proposal would move to the next stage of the government's assessment process.

Barry O'Farrell's media release supported Crown Casino's plans. Credit:Rob Homer

Documents released under freedom of information reveal Mr Craigie suggested a number of changes, including to the section dealing with the likelihood of Crown being awarded a casino licence and a description of how the government would further assess the plan.

Most, but not all, of Mr Craigie's handwritten changes on the draft were incorporated into the media release issued by Mr O'Farrell the next day.