Government blocks motion to refer John Sidoti to ICAC
The Berejiklian government has blocked a motion in parliament to refer John Sidoti to a full Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation, a day after he stood down as minister.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Family to lose millions from compulsory acquisition
- John Sidoti the $41.4m cabinet minister
- Labor to demand answers from Sidoti
The Berejiklian government blocked a motion in parliament to refer John Sidoti to a full Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation while the former sports minister cited the corruption watchdog’s interest in him as a reason for not answering questions in parliament.
The Greens gained support in the upper house on Wednesday to refer Mr Sidoti for a full ICAC investigation but the government refused to put the referral to a vote in the lower house.
If Mr Sidoti, as expected, abstains from voting on the motion the government could use its wafer thin majority of one to block the referral to upgrade the ICAC investigation from its current preliminary stage.
The embattled MP stepped down as a minister on Tuesday after the corruption watchdog launched a preliminary investigation into his private business interests, following revelations in The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Sidoti’s decision to vacate his cabinet position as Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans comes after his six days of strong denials of wrongdoing in building up a $41.4 million property fortune while holding parliamentary secretary positions in planning and transport.
Mr Sidoti will continue to receive his ministerial salary of $265,000 despite losing his portfolios. His close ally Geoff Lee has been appointed interim minister.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian called off a separate investigation she had ordered into Mr Sidoti’s affairs after Independent Commission Against Corruption told her on Monday night it had launched a preliminary investigation.
She will today announce a crackdown on cash donations after The Telegraph revealed Mr Sidoti’s Chinese developer business partner Ming Shang, vice president of Southern Han International, had made an illegal donation to his 2015 campaign. The Liberal party has since paid back the cash.
Under the reforms cash donations of more than $100 will be banned.
Mr Sidoti’s major land parcels in Five Dock and Rouse Hill have exploded in value thanks to re-zonings and proximity to planned or completed stations in the government’s multibillion-dollar rollout of new metro rail lines.
Mr Sidoti was parliamentary secretary to transport when the department was designing specifications for a new access road that paved the way for approval of a $70 million residential development application on the Rouse Hill land.
The application to build four eight-storey towers at 38 Cudgegong Rd Rouse Hill was in limbo for years until these designs were finalised.
The Telegraph’s reports also revealed Mr Sidoti was parliamentary secretary to planning and later roads when his elderly mum and dad, through a family trust, went on a $5 million property buying spree in Five Dock ahead of the suburb firming as a likely site of a future station on the new Sydney Metro West.
These purchases were missing for years from his parliamentary declarations while associated earnings of $500,000 a year in rent have never been declared.
“Mr Sidoti has offered to stand aside from Cabinet while ICAC conducts its preliminary investigation and I have accepted his offer,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Yesterday evening, I received a letter from (ICAC) indicating the Commission will undertake a preliminary investigation into recent allegations made against John Sidoti.”
The government was pressured in parliament with Opposition leader Jodi McKay saying to Transport Minister Andrew Constance: “You’re saying there’s nothing to see here. (The Premier’s) saying there’s nothing to see here. There is something to see here.”