The Iemma Government was in full blown crisis last night as the Environment Minister, Phil Koperberg, prepared to quit the cabinet and the future of the Ports Minister, Joe Tripodi, was under a giant cloud as a result of the Wollongong sex-for-development scandal. 

The Premier was set to announce Mr Koperberg's retirement from cabinet this morning, senior sources confirmed.

Domestic violence allegations against the minister have resurfaced recently, and he has since been ill. 

Government Implodes As Minister Jumps Ship 

meanwhile ….. 

As many as five women who have worked at various times at Wollongong City Council have raised allegations of harassment and intimidation by the ALP heavyweight Joe Scimone. 

The complaints emerged after the Herald revealed one such case yesterday. 

The Herald understands that one woman who made a serious allegation against Mr Scimone - whose connections with powerful Labor figures are well established - was subsequently employed by the NSW public service. 

Five Sex Claims Surface Against ALP Heavyweight 

whilst ….. 

The former Wollongong council officer and ALP powerbroker Joe Scimone was fooled into believing his "problems" at Wollongong council could be made to disappear if he paid $30,000 to two men claiming to be corrupt Independent Commission Against Corruption officials, a public inquiry was told yesterday. 

Exactly what those problems were was a subject for interrogation yesterday at the commission inquiry into alleged corrupt behaviour at the council, with questions being asked about Mr Scimone's role assessing development applications, and bribes he allegedly paid to pervert the inquiry. 

The commission yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of one of the men, Ray Younan, a criminal alleged to have solicited bribes from Mr Scimone and others named in the inquiry. Younan is believed to be in Lebanon with health problems. 

Focus On Scimone's $30,000 Woes