The NSW government has confirmed it is examining claims made against strata commissioner John Minns, whose business interest in a property management firm was flagged in the ABC’s Four Corners program yesterday. 

The ABC said Mr Minns was stood aside after an interview for the show, pending a government investigation.

“The Department of Customer Service considers governance of its employees of highest priority,” a spokesperson told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“DCS is examining claims involving strata and property services commissioner John Minns.

“Mr Minns has been absent from duty since Monday September 2 and is providing full support to the review. No further comment can be provided at this time.”

In the interview for the ABC program, Mr Minns was asked about his formal disclosures in relation to his interest in Independent Property Group.

He replied “that is correct” when asked if he had sold his stake in the group in mid-2021, as he had committed to do in his disclosures.

The program said Mr Minns continued to own a “significant” stake in the company through his family trust.

Mr Minns was asked if the family trust continued to own more than 500,000 shares, and he replied: “That is correct.”

Asked if the arrangement was an “impossible conflict”, he said: “If the government had viewed it as [an] impossible conflict, I wouldn’t have taken the role on.”

Mr Minns told Four Corners the NSW government was fully aware of his shareholding.

Independent Property Group offers real estate services. The ABC said it obtained the group’s most recent financial statement, which showed it earned more than $8 million from strata and facilities management work across 2022 and last year.