NSW sports minister John Sidoti steps aside pending ICAC probe into land purchases

Sports minister John Sidoti steps down from Cabinet pending an ICAC investigation.

Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans John Sidoti MP appears before the Legislative Council Budget Estimates hearing last week.

NSW Sports Minister John Sidoti is stepping aside from cabinet pending an ICAC investigation into purchases of land he made near the North West Metro and Western Metro projects which stand to make him millions — in a fresh blow to Premier Gladys Berejiklian after she faced down a threatened spill motion over abortion laws.

The purchases, first revealed in media reports in 2017, resurfaced last week including a revelation in The Daily Telegraph that the Liberal Party had accepted a donation from a prohibited donor involved in one of the developments.

Mr Sidoti was parliamentary secretary to the minister for transport and minister for planning when the purchases were made but has strenuously denied using any inside information in relation to the purchases.

After Mr Sidoti was mercilessly grilled on Thursday in a budget estimates hearing, Ms Berejiklian sent the matter of his disclosures to a formal review by her Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tim Riordan, to establish whether there were any breaches of the ministerial code of conduct.

“I’ve offered to the Premier to step aside while the ICAC carries out its preliminary assessment and clears my name. I’m innocent,” Mr Sidoti said. “I’ve done this for Gladys, my colleagues and the people of NSW. Gladys has accepted.”

Mr Sidoti’s statement appears to clear the way for a return by him to cabinet if he is cleared of any wrongdoing.

In a further statement, Mr Sidoti said: “The allegations made against me by the media and exacerbated by the opposition and the crossbench in budget estimates and parliament, are false and inaccurate.

“I deny any allegations of wrongdoing.

“I have no undeclared conflicts of interest or benefits.

“I comply with the ministerial code of conduct.

“It is a privilege to represent the people of NSW and I look forward to having my name cleared.”

In a statement, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “Yesterday evening, I received a letter from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) indicating the Commission will undertake a preliminary investigation into recent allegations made against John Sidoti.

“ICAC has requested the secretary of the department of premier and cabinet take no further action to investigate or review these matters pending the commission’s review.

‘I have accepted this request from the commissioner.

“As I have said before, I believe the public’s confidence in the integrity of government decision making is absolutely paramount.

“I believe ICAC’s review is an important step in maintaining the public’s confidence in these matters.

“Mr Sidoti has given strong assurances he has acted appropriately at all times and complied with the ministerial code of conduct.

“Mr Sidoti has offered to stand aside from cabinet while ICAC conducts its preliminary investigation and I have accepted his offer.

“Minister Geoff Lee will act as Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans until the conclusion of the preliminary investigation.”

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay last week referred the Sidoti matter to ICAC.

Ms McKay tweeted: “I am pleased the Independent Commission Against Corruption has now confirmed it is acting on our referral and investigating Liberal Minister John Sidoti.”