Sidelined NSW government minister John Sidoti accused of intimidation in parliament

John Sidoti has been accused of allegedly pursuing a female Labor MP down a parliament hallway and shouting at her.

Former sports minister John Sidoti stood aside from his portfolio responsibilities last year following a Labor referral to the ICAC about his family’s property holdings. Picture: AAP

Sidelined NSW government minister John Sidoti has been accused of intimidating a female Labor MP in parliament, allegedly pursuing her down a hallway and shouting at her over comments made towards him across the chamber.

Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle gave notice of a motion in parliament on Tuesday condemning Mr Sidoti and calling on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to sack him. Mr Sidoti flatly denied the allegation when contacted by The Australian.

NSW Labor MP Trish Doyle. Picture: Tim Hunter

The former sports minister stood aside from his portfolio responsibilities last year following a Labor referral to the Independent Commission against Corruption about his family’s property holdings. The matter has remained under ICAC consideration ever since.

Ms Doyle told parliament that on June 18 she was pursued by Mr Sidoti following debate in the chamber.

It was alleged that he “bailed me up against the wall and attempted to intimidate me by shouting in my face and recording the entire exchange on his phone”.

A number of Labor and Liberal MPs were in the immediate vicinity of the exchange and “could hear this altercation unfold”.

Ms Doyle described the incident as a matter of workplace bullying that “should not be tolerated anywhere, let alone in the parliament”. She also called upon Ms Berejiklian to finally act upon “this minister’s long list of indiscretions, misbehaviour and inappropriate conduct”, though these were not identified any further.

In response, Mr Sidoti told The Australian that Ms Doyle had been shouting defamatory statements across the chamber prior to the exchange in the hallway. He said that when he saw Ms Doyle outside he challenged her to make the same comments where parliamentary privilege would not shield her from potential defamation action.

“When I saw her on the way out I called her a gutless wonder and I told her to say it (her comments) outside the chamber and she proceeded to do it, she said ‘I stand by everything I said’, and there was another member of parliament standing next to me,” Mr Sidoti said.

“I never in any shape or form put any pressure on her – it’s not me, I would never do that, I would never do that to a woman. I’ve been married 26 years and I’ve never had an argument with my wife, ever.”

Mr Sidoti, the member for Drummoyne, has remained on the coalition backbench while his matter remains with the ICAC. A decision on whether an investigation will proceed – expected imminently – will ultimately determine his future in cabinet.

Ms Doyle said she looked forward to ventilating the matter in parliament.

“Three government members, including a senior minister, have encouraged me to pursue this matter. This is not about politics.”