Sam Dastyari quits Senate over China links
JULIE Bishop has accused Labor leader Bill Shorten of “stage-managing” Sam Dastyari’s exit to help Kristina Keneally secure a spot in the Senate.
NSW
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JULIE Bishop has accused Labor leader Bill Shorten of “stage-managing” Sam Dastyari’s exit to help Kristina Keneally secure a spot in the Senate.
The Foreign Minister called on Mr Shorten to reveal his discussions with Ms Keneally following Mr Dastyari’s resignation during a feisty press conference in Macquarie Park.
“The question is now, is Kristina Keneally being lined up for the vacancy in the Senate? First, Sam Dastyari should resign effectively immediately. He shouldn’t receive another cent in salary from the Australian people,” she said.
“Second, Bill Shorten should say what discussions he’s had with Kristina Keneally about getting her to win the Senate spot should she not win in Bennelong.
“This is all being stage-managed by Labor so that it’s a backstop for Kristina Keneally should she not win here.”
Ms Bishop also took aim at Ms Keneally’s record as premier and claimed she was “shopping around for a seat in parliament”.
“The people of Bennelong do not deserve her style of leadership — a failed Labor premier, the hand-picked choice of Eddie Obeid ... they don’t need the incompetent, corrupt government of government of Kristina Keneally here in Bennelong.”
Ms Bishop hit back at claims the government’s “China-phobia” rhetoric had damaged relations, saying: “I don’t accept that at all”.
“We have robust discussions with China — we are consistent, we are pragmatic and we are principled in our relationship with China.”
Earlier in the day, Ms Keneally said she expected the Liberals would resort to “dirty tactics” in the final days before the by-election. She also claimed the Mr Alexander had rejected an invitation to attend a parents’ forum at a Catholic school in Ryde, where she and Mr Shorten had spoken.
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But Mr Alexander slammed her as comments “untrue”, claiming the Liberal Party had not been invited to the event.
“I was not invited at all, and her claims we have reduced spending on education are absolutely incorrect,” he said.
“I find the most despicable tactics are to not tell the truth. To not tell the truth about being on the phone for an hour to Medicare — untrue. To say we closed the Eastwood Medicare centre — untrue. To say we cut funding to Tafe — untrue.
“And to say that I was invited to an event at St Charles (school), which was probably the first time she’d been there ... untrue.”
Mr Dastyari quit the Senate this morning amid intense scrutiny of his interactions with a Chinese businessman and political donor.
Mr Dastyari made the announcement at a press conference this morning in Sydney.
“Today, after much reflection, I’ve decided that the best service I can render to the federal parliamentary Labor Party is to not return to the Senate in 2018,” Mr Dastyari said.
“I have not reached this decision lightly. But in my deliberations, I’ve been guided by my Labor values, which tell me that I should leave if my ongoing presence detracts from the pursuit of Labor’s mission.
“It is evident to me we are at that point, so I will spare the party any further distraction.
“I love the Labor Party it’s always given me more than I’ve given back. I know Australia needs a Labor government and I refuse to let my personal situation put that prospect at risk. I have always put the pursuit of the Labor cause first.”
“Reflecting on the events which led to my decision I leave knowing that I’ve always honoured my parliamentarian oath. I’ve always acted with integrity and I remain a loyal, patriotic Australian.”
I have not reached this decision lightly
Mr Dastyari said he would continue to be a “grassroots member” of the Labor Party.
JUDGMENT ‘LET HIM DOWN’
Labor leader Bill Shorten said Mr Dastyari’s judgment had “let him down”.
“Sam Dastyari is a good, decent and loyal Australian, and an effective parliamentarian, but his judgment has let him down and now he has paid the heaviest price,” he said.
“Sam can be proud of what he has achieved during his time as a Senator.”
Mr Shorten was informed this morning by Mr Dastyari of his intention to resign from the Senate.
“I told him I thought this was the right decision,” Mr Shorten said.
“I thanked him for his services to the parliament, to the state of New South Wales and the Australian Labor Party.”
Mr Shorten outlined the success Mr Dastyari had in the parliament.
“He has sought justice for the victims of banking misconduct, exposed the tax minimisation practices of multinational giants, pushed for a better deal for younger Australians and promoted an inclusive multicultural nation,” he said.
His judgment has let him down and now he has paid the heaviest price
“Sam is also a talented and tireless campaigner — his passion, organising skills and boundless good humour has engaged a new generation of progressive activist.”
“I am sure Sam will continue to make a valuable contribution to our country in whatever he chooses to do.”
When asked if there was a co-ordinated push among Labor members to remove Mr Dastyari from the Senate, Mr Shorten said the embattled senator reached the decision himself.
“In my opinion Senator Dastyari’s career was going nowhere fast,” he told reporters at a press conference in Ryde.
“I think it was a statement of the obvious that he was considering his position and that’s what he’s done.
“He’s made mistakes of judgment but he’s paid the heaviest price. His career in federal politics is over ... I think it’s the right decision for him, absolutely.”
Mr Shorten wouldn’t be drawn on whether he would parachute Ms Keneally to parliament by taking Mr Dastyari’s seat if she lost the Bennelong by-election.
“Ye of little faith. I think we’re highly competitive in this by-election ... we’re focused on winning on Saturday. I tell you what, you wouldn’t be rushing to put a bet on John Alexander to win,” he said.
“I’m ruling in that we’re going to do everything we can to win.”
He also declined to comment on when Labor would replace Mr Dastyari.
“The Labor Party’s got a process and they’ll resolve it in the New Year,” he said.
This week Labor frontbenchers broke ranks to pressure their colleague to consider his position in the Senate.
There were earlier concerns at the number of questions Mr Dastyari asked during Senate estimate hearings relating to the South China Sea, and his relationship with donor Huang Xiangmo.
Labor leader Bill Shorten last week sacked Mr Dastyari from his parliamentary leadership roles over his involvement with donor Mr Huang, including contradicting party policy and reportedly tipping him off his phone may be tapped.
DONOR ‘PAID $55k FOR SHORTEN LUNCH’
The news comes after reports the Chinese donor reportedly paid $55,000 to attend a lunch with Mr Shorten.
Mr Dastyari, previously the powerful general secretary of NSW Labor, has been under fire about his relationship with Mr Huang, a wealthy political donor who has close associations with the Chinese government, since last year when it was revealed he had asked for private legal bills to be paid by his company.
Mr Dastyari later told Mr Huang not to use his phone because security agencies may be listening to calls in a meeting that took place after the first series of reports.
Mr Huang is also a major donor to the Coalition, but the donations debate became a major distraction for Labor leader Bill Shorten as Parliament approached the end of the year.
Two Labor frontbenchers became the most senior in the party to call for Mr Dastyari to reconsider his position yesterday after more revelations that he tried to pressure Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek into abandoning a meeting with a Hong Kong activist Joseph Cheng Yu-shek in January 2015.
Mr Dastyari’s office yesterday called those claims “complete rubbish”.
The close relationship between Labor and Mr Huang has caused concern among Australia’s intelligence community, and particularly the connection between large political donations from the property developer and statements made by Mr Dastyari.
Mr Dastyari made several comments following donations by Mr Huang in which he agreed the Australian government should not be involved in the contentious South China Sea dispute in which China claims swathes of territory not recognised by other nations in the region including Australia.
DASTYARI ASKED 115 CHINA QUESTIONS
The Daily Telegraph also revealed Mr Dastyari has asked 115 South China Sea related questions to DFAT and Defence bosses at Senate estimate hearings, often appearing to mirror China’s position on the issue.
Mr Huang also donated $55,000 for a lunch with Mr Shorten in October 2015, after which the Labor leader appeared more open to an Australia-China trade deal which was opposed by his trade union allies.
Labor sources were speculating Kristina Keneally, currently running against Liberal John Alexander in Bennelong, could take up Mr Dastyari’s position in the Senate if she was unsuccessful at the election on the weekend.
