Mr Scimone, a senior NSW Labor party official, is facing allegations that he paid $30,000 to conmen posing as Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) officers offering to destroy evidence against him.

The allegation dates back 18 months to when Mr Scimone was working at the council.

His appointment to the $200,000-a-year job as an executive director of NSW Maritime's property division was made four weeks ago.

"Following discussions this morning with Mr Scimone and NSW Maritime CEO Chris Oxenbould, Mr Scimone has stood down," Ports Minister Joe Tripodi, a friend of Mr Scimone's, said.

ICAC is now investigating the allegations against Mr Scimone.

However Mr Tripodi said in the statement today that neither he nor NSW Maritime had been aware of the ICAC investigation when Mr Scimone was appointed.

"Mr Scimone's involvement with the ICAC investigation only became apparent to myself this week," Mr Tripodi said.

"I take a dim view of corruption at any level of government. If ICAC makes recommendations to take further action against Mr Scimone, I expect further action will be taken by NSW Maritime."

Premier Morris Iemma said earlier that he had expressed the view to Mr Tripodi that Mr Scimone should stand down.

"The minister and I had a discussion and I expressed my view to him and he agreed, and that is something he has taken up with his director general," Mr Iemma told Fairfax Radio Network.

Mr Tripodi said earlier today he had known Mr Scimone for 10 or 15 years as a friend from the ALP whom he would meet once a month.

He said Mr Scimone had told him he was applying for the NSW Maritime job but he denied any direct involvement in the appointment.

"I can't comment about (the job), because I don't know much about it," Mr Tripodi told Fairfax radio.

Mr Scimone had told him about his job application, he said, but had failed to tell him about the ICAC investigation.