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Sam Dastyari told Tanya Plibersek not to meet an Hong Kong democracy activist – report Sam Dastyari told Tanya Plibersek not to meet an Hong Kong democracy activist – report
(35 minutes later)
The Labor senator Sam Dastyari reportedly tried to persuade the party’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, not to meet an activist who had upset China.The Labor senator Sam Dastyari reportedly tried to persuade the party’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, not to meet an activist who had upset China.
On Monday Fairfax Media reported three sources as saying Dastyari had tried to stop Plibersek from meeting the academic Joseph Cheng Yu-shek during a visit to Hong Kong in January 2015.On Monday Fairfax Media reported three sources as saying Dastyari had tried to stop Plibersek from meeting the academic Joseph Cheng Yu-shek during a visit to Hong Kong in January 2015.
The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, is yet to address the allegations but the opposition spokeswoman on human services, Linda Burney, told Sky News she was “sure” Dastyari “is thinking very deeply about his role within the party”.The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, is yet to address the allegations but the opposition spokeswoman on human services, Linda Burney, told Sky News she was “sure” Dastyari “is thinking very deeply about his role within the party”.
The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, seized on the comments which he said “called out” Dastyari, adding that Shorten should now force him out of the Senate.The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, seized on the comments which he said “called out” Dastyari, adding that Shorten should now force him out of the Senate.
A spokesman for Dastyari rejected the allegation as “complete rubbish”.A spokesman for Dastyari rejected the allegation as “complete rubbish”.
A spokesman for Plibersek said her “itinerary in Hong Kong, including a meeting with a prominent pro-democracy activist, went ahead precisely as scheduled. I think that speaks for itself”.A spokesman for Plibersek said her “itinerary in Hong Kong, including a meeting with a prominent pro-democracy activist, went ahead precisely as scheduled. I think that speaks for itself”.
“Ms Plibersek doesn’t canvass conversations colleagues may or may not have had with her or her office,” he said.“Ms Plibersek doesn’t canvass conversations colleagues may or may not have had with her or her office,” he said.
Dastyari was in China at the time on a trip paid for by an organisation controlled by the Communist party-aligned and Labor and Coalition political donor and businessman Huang Xiangmo, Fairfax said.Dastyari was in China at the time on a trip paid for by an organisation controlled by the Communist party-aligned and Labor and Coalition political donor and businessman Huang Xiangmo, Fairfax said.
The government has asked the Senate’s privileges committee to investigate Dastyari’s conduct after it was alleged he tipped off Huang that his phone was probably being tapped by Australian agencies.The government has asked the Senate’s privileges committee to investigate Dastyari’s conduct after it was alleged he tipped off Huang that his phone was probably being tapped by Australian agencies.
Shorten has sacked the senator from his parliamentary leadership positions.Shorten has sacked the senator from his parliamentary leadership positions.
Burney credited Shorten for having taken “very decisive action” by stripping him of his positions but said the issue was still “bubbling away”.Burney credited Shorten for having taken “very decisive action” by stripping him of his positions but said the issue was still “bubbling away”.
“It is now up to Mr Dastyari to consider his position and I’m sure that he’s doing that,” she said.“It is now up to Mr Dastyari to consider his position and I’m sure that he’s doing that,” she said.
“In relation to the continued role of Sam within the parliament that is a matter very much for Sam.”“In relation to the continued role of Sam within the parliament that is a matter very much for Sam.”
On Monday Dutton said Dastyari was “a double agent and he can’t be in the Australian Senate”.On Monday Dutton said Dastyari was “a double agent and he can’t be in the Australian Senate”.
“You can’t pledge allegiance to two countries if you are an Australian senator,” he said.“You can’t pledge allegiance to two countries if you are an Australian senator,” he said.
Dutton said Shorten should and announce that Dastyari “must resign from the Senate”.Dutton said Shorten should and announce that Dastyari “must resign from the Senate”.
The former prime minister, Tony Abbott, accused Dastyari of a “political character flaw”, namely his “blindness to the reality” that he is exercising influence on behalf of the Chinese.
Abbott told 2GB Radio that “insiders in the Labor party have given up on him” and predicted he would quit after the Bennelong byelection on Saturday.
He accused Shorten of “failing the character test” by not forcing Dastyari to resign.
At a doorstop in Bennelong, Labor’s skills and apprenticeships spokesman, Doug Cameron, said he did not have a problem with Dastyari remaining in the Senate, accusing the Turnbull government of “overblown” criticism.
“Bill Shorten can do nothing about an elected senator,” Cameron said. “That is a decision that was made by the people of Australia to elect Sam Dastyari to the Senate.”
On Saturday Malcolm Turnbull stepped up pressure on Dastyari, saying his was a “classic case” of foreign interference in domestic politics.
On Monday Labor’s candidate in Bennelong, Kristina Keneally, said the Chinese-Australian community was alarmed by Turnbull’s “frankly divisive rhetoric” which they interpreted mean that “people from Chinese or Asian background are somehow suspicious”.
Keneally noted that her opponent, John Alexander, had refrained from statements she likened to Pauline Hanson’s anti-Asian rhetoric in the 1990s.
The energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, told Radio National the report was “another disturbing, damaging allegation about a repeat offender”.The energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, told Radio National the report was “another disturbing, damaging allegation about a repeat offender”.
“The Dastyari itch is soon becoming a rash and will be an outbreak engulfing the whole of the Labor party unless Bill Shorten shows Dastyari the back door,” he said.“The Dastyari itch is soon becoming a rash and will be an outbreak engulfing the whole of the Labor party unless Bill Shorten shows Dastyari the back door,” he said.
Frydenberg accused Dastyari of “a pattern of behaviour of somebody who doesn’t put Australia’s interest first”.Frydenberg accused Dastyari of “a pattern of behaviour of somebody who doesn’t put Australia’s interest first”.
“Sam Dastyari has to explain each and every one of these allegations.”“Sam Dastyari has to explain each and every one of these allegations.”
Labor’s climate change and energy spokesman, Mark Butler, told ABC’s AM the report was “fevered speculation” and there was “not really that basis” to conclude Dastyari had attempted to dissuade Plibersek from taking the meeting.Labor’s climate change and energy spokesman, Mark Butler, told ABC’s AM the report was “fevered speculation” and there was “not really that basis” to conclude Dastyari had attempted to dissuade Plibersek from taking the meeting.