Station pick puts minister John Sidoti’s home in prime position

A planned stop on the $25bn Western Metro is opposite a property bought by John Sidoti’s family.

The planned station at Five Dock is across the road from John Sidoti’s family’s property, bought in 2016. Picture: AAP

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed the proposed locations of seven stops on the $25bn Western Metro rail line, but the announcement was marred by the news that one station is directly opposite a property bought by the family of minister John Sidoti.

The seven proposed stations will be at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and the Bays Precinct, with the government boasting that the Western Metro rail line would mean a 20-minute trip from the CBD to Parramatta and 14 minutes to Olympic Park.

Labor leader Jodi McKay leapt on the announcement, given Mr Sidoti, the Sports and Multiculturalism Minister, has stood aside from cabinet while ICAC examines his purchase of properties near the Western Metro and North West Metro lines. Mr Sidoti was a parliamentary secretary to the ministers for transport and planning. He has maintained he acted properly at all times.

The planned station at Five Dock is across the road from Mr Sidoti’s family’s property, bought in 2016.

Ms McKay said: “Since Labor first raised concerns about Mr Sidoti’s property holdings in the parliament, Mr Sidoti has continued to receive his full $380,000 salary as a minister. Labor estimates he has earned more than $36,000 in ministerial salary and allowances since being sidelined five weeks ago.

“It’s time to end this farce. Mr Sidoti’s ministerial salary must be terminated.”

ICAC refused to comment on Monday about where its preliminary inquiry into Mr Sidoti’s purchases was at.

Mr Sidoti declined to comment, out of respect for the ICAC process, he said.