Tuesday 9 August 2022 12:22 PM Dominic Perrottet: Blow for NSW Premier as MP suspended after ICAC findings trends now
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has suffered another huge blow as a former minister is suspended from the state parliament, adding to a mounting sense of chaos.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) found former minister John Sidoti engaged in 'serious corrupt conduct' over family-owned properties in Sydney.
The disgraced Mr Sidoti had moved from the Liberal Party to the crossbenches last month after ICAC's findings, but refused to resign from parliament.
The latest episode follows a horror period for the Liberal-National Coalition, which includes Mr Perrottet losing two ministers to scandals in a matter of days.
Mr Sidoti's suspension came a day after former deputy premier John Barilaro appeared at an inquiry into his controversial appointment to a plum $500,000 New York job, where he claimed he is 'the victim ... not the perpetrator'.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's (pictured with his wife Helen) Liberal-National Coalition Government has been engulfed by chaos for months
Mr Sidoti was investigated amid allegations he lobbied local councillors to rezone blocks at Five Dock in Sydney's inner west, where his family owned property between 2013 and 2017.
Alister Henskens, Government leader in the lower house, moved a motion to suspend Mr Sidoti on Tuesday, saying it was necessary to 'protect and uphold the dignity' of the parliament.
The Drummoyne MP is suspended from the parliament through to November 25, or until further orders are made.
Mr Sidoti, a former Sport Minister, said he intends to fight the corruption watchdog's findings in the NSW Supreme Court
Mr Henskens said he wanted to keep his comments on the issue brief due to the possible court challenge.
Mr Sidoti became emotional in replying, saying he had been persecuted by Greens MP David Shoebridge and Labor MPs Penny Sharpe and Walt Secord during hearings known as budget estimates.
Those hearings led to Mr Sidoti, who has served as an MP for the past 12 years, being investigated by ICAC.
'These honourable members deliberately took pleasure in creating a fiasco knowing that there was no foundation of truth,' Mr Sidoti said.
Disgraced NSW MP John Sidoti is pictured leaving an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into his family property developments in Sydney on Tuesday, April 20, 2021
He said his parents 'who came to Australia with absolutely nothing' had been subjected to a negative comments.
'I cannot express how heartbroken I've been to watch them be vilified in media by this process.'
The latest in the Sidoti saga followed a day after former deputy premier John Barilaro's appearance at an inquiry into his appointment to a plum $500,000 New York job.
Labor MPs suggested Mr Barilaro knew about former premier Gladys Berejiklian's resignation in advance because he was interviewed by ICAC in private on September 10, 2021.
Mr Barilaro said 'I will absolutely refute that disgusting slur and accusation'.
Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro is pictured giving evidence during the inquiry into his appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on Monday, August 8, 2022
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