John Sidoti pushed for cuts to land tax

The NSW Sports Minister, to be probed by ICAC, lobbied for the change in recent years.

John Sidoti. Picture: AAP

John Sidoti, the Sports Minister who stood aside on Tuesday from cabinet pending an ICAC preliminary investigation concerning controversial land purchases near metro stations, lobbied several times for land tax to be cut in the early years of the Coalition government.

Liberal MPs have confirmed to The Australian that Mr Sidoti mentioned a few times in the party room he would like to see a land tax cut “to drive investment”.

In his maiden speech in 2011, Mr Sidoti mentioned land tax, saying: “I look forward to bringing fresh ideas and debate on topics such as land tax, small business, multicultural affairs and local government reform.

“Those areas are very important and affect how people live and work, and therefore are of paramount importance.”

Any land tax cut would benefit Mr Sidoti in his developments.

On Wednesday in the state’s upper house, Labor leader Adam Searle moved for the government to provide all documents concerning Mr Sidoti’s disclosures about his land purchases, including records held by the premier’s office and department, in seven days’ time.

Mr Sidoti stood aside on Tuesday from cabinet after ICAC wrote to Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday night saying it would conduct a preliminary investigation into purchases by Mr Sidoti of land near Tallawong Station on the North West Metro line to develop apartments and in Five Dock, near where a Western Metro station is proposed.

Mr Sidoti was parliamentary secretary to the ministers for transport and planning when the purchases occurred.

The Australian understands that Mr Sidoti, who has a 10 per cent interest in the land in the north west, maintains that he became involved in the syndicate that bought the land through a friend he plays golf with.

Comment was being sought from Mr Sidoti, who denies any wrongdoing and says his name will be cleared.