John Sidoti tells ICAC he didn’t know what he was signing

Benched Liberal MP John Sidoti has told ICAC he didn’t know what he was signing in relation to his family’s super fund, or that his wife made hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Liberal MP John Sidoti told the corruption watchdog he didn’t know what documents he was signing and had no idea his wife made $360,000 in one year - at least according to the tax department.

The NSW politician insisted he was just a dutiful son who signed on the dotted line to help his property developer parents “minimise” their tax.

Sidoti took the stand at the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Tuesday as it examines whether he used his position to lean on Canada Bay Council to help his family’s property interests in Five Dock.

The ICAC has heard Sidoti heaped pressure on councillors to rezone land held by his parents and their legal entities.

Sidoti said he’d been signing documents for his parents family superannuation trust since 1992 - but he didn’t know what they meant.

“I just thought it was my role as a son, as an employee,” he said.

Sidoti was employed by his parents for much of his life to manage and emcee the Five Dock function centre while his parents ran the kitchen.

He said he didn’t know what a beneficiary or trustee was - and didn’t understand he was a beneficiary of the Sidoti family trust until the ICAC began asking questions.

Sidoti became aware he’d signed documents for the trust while an MP and said he wasn’t aware he was a trustee.

“I was just signing whatever tax minimisation scheme was set up for the family,” he said.

It wasn’t until then-NSW Labor leader Luke Foley stood up in parliament with a stack of documents related to the Sidoti family that the MP realised he hadn’t properly disclosed the network of trusts and properties, he said.

John Sidoti with his wife Sandra.

Sidoti asked his wife and accountant for a “please explain” and his accountant returned an email setting out exactly what he owned and needed to publicly list, he told the ICAC.

Sandra Sidoti, the politician’s wife, fronted the commission earlier in the day giving similar evidence that she effectively signed tax documents year after year unaware of what they meant.

“I trust my accountant… I have full faith in him so I didn’t question it,” she said.

Mrs Sidoti said she had no knowledge she was listed as recieving a $720,000 share of a multi-million dollar property sale that resulted in $360,000 income on her tax statement in 2016.

She was asked if she would expect to have known about that income.

“I would hope so,” she said with a laugh, explaining she did not have a paid job.

Mrs Sidoti also said she had no knowledge of tens of thousands of dollars of income recorded in other years or a letter setting out a tax bill totalling more than $140,000.

“I think you should ask Tony (the accountant),” she said.

“I have no knowledge of this letter.”

Her husband said he also had no idea about his wife’s income or her tax bill because the money never hit their bank account.

“I’m aware I have a joint bank account with my wife and that’s all we own that’s all we have,” he said.

Sidoti said that, as with other documents, he just signed tax documents as he was told by his accountants.

“I never turned my mind to it, I was working ridiculous hours,” he said.

“It didn’t even cross my mind because there’s no way she’d have $360,000.”

Sidoti said he had no idea how the massive tax bill was paid.

Commissioner Peter Hall QC asked Sidoti why he didn’t check documents, particularly important financials as a member of parliament with public duties and expectations.

“I should have,” Sidoti responded.