Premier under pressure on sidelined Sports Minister John Sidoti

Gladys Berejiklian is facing mounting pressure to permanently replace stood-aside sports minister John Sidoti after a dozen sports organisations wrote to the Premier complaining the sector was in a “holding pattern” and losing traction.

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Gladys Berejiklian is facing mounting pressure to permanently replace stood-aside sports minister John Sidoti after a dozen sports organisations wrote to the Premier complaining the sector was in a “holding pattern” and losing traction.

After a summit convened by Sports NSW, state associations including rugby league, basketball, AFL and netball signed a letter to the Premier asking when a permanent minister will be appointed.

“There was concern expressed that sport in NSW was in a holding pattern and losing relevance and traction at the government level,” the organisations wrote on 10 December in the Sports NSW letter, a copy of which has been obtained by the Telegraph.

“The group was unanimous in the view that there was currently a lack of leadership and direction and that sport was losing momentum after a period of strong stability and progress in previous years.”

Sidelined MP John Sidoti.

Geoff Lee, Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education was handed Mr Sidoti’s portfolios of Veterans, Multicultural and Sport in an acting capacity after Mr Sidoti in September resigned from cabinet when the corruption watchdog launched a preliminary investigation into his private business interests.

Darren Simpson, boss of the peak state sport advocacy group Sports NSW, said since writing to Ms Berejiklian, Mr Lee had addressed two of the group’s key concerns, belatedly allocating funding to 80 state sporting organisations and appointing a CEO at the Office of Sport.

However Mr Simpson said Mr Lee could provide no time frame for the appointment of a permanent minister.

“He’s got seven portfolios, you have to feel for the bloke,” Mr Simpson said.

Geoff Lee, Acting Minister for Sport and Multiculturalism.

The Premier declined to answer questions on her plans for the portfolios and Mr Sidoti’s future in parliament.

“ICAC’s preliminary investigation is underway and it would be inappropriate to speculate on its outcome,” a government spokeswoman said.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption’s investigation into Mr Sidoti’s private business interests, including lucrative land parcels he and his family own next to two of the government’s new billion-dollar metro projects, is continuing.

A spokeswoman for the ICAC said she could not comment on ongoing investigations.

In the letter the sports representatives said as the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics approaches “people will reflect on a time when sport, and its place in NSW, was at a peak and the envy of Australia and the world.

Gladys Berejiklian is facing mounting pressure to permanently replace Sports Minister John Sidoti. Picture: Joel Carrett

“Unfortunately, this is a long way from where we feel sport is at present,” they wrote.

The bosses of the 12 organisations which signed the letter represent the state organisations for rugby league, basketball, AFL, netball, tennis, soccer, golf, hockey, rugby union and surfing.

Opposition spokeswoman on sport, Lynda Voltz said sport deserved better.

“Sport is critically important, not just for the events market but for millions of families and kids across NSW who are part of grassroots sporting organisations.

“They need a permanent Minister who is across the portfolio and who is willing to actually stand up for the sports sector. Keeping a placeholder like Geoff Lee in the job just isn’t acceptable,” Ms Voltz said.