Shaoquett Moselmane: Federal police raid NSW Labor MP’s home
The brother of Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane says he is a ‘scapegoat’ and a ‘victim of racism’ after his Sydney home was raided by ASIO investigating claims Chinese government agents have infiltrated the nation’s politics.
NSW
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared Australia “won’t cop” foreign interference in its political system, revealing the investigation into NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane has been “going on for some time”.
The Sydney home of Mr Moselmane was searched today by federal police and ASIO over claims of foreign interference, believed to be from China.
Mr Morrison said he had been briefed on the investigation on Thursday night and was “not at liberty” to go into the details, adding things had “elevated to a new level today” with multiple raids.
“It’s a matter that is being pursued by the task force which became operational last December, which we established,” he said.
“I think the actions of the Australian Federal Police and ASIO demonstrate that the threats in this area are real,” he said.
“The need to take action is necessary and the Government is absolutely determined to ensure that nobody interferes with Australia’s activities.”
Australia’s spy agency ASIO confirmed it was behind the raids this morning on properties belonging to NSW Labor upper house MP Shaoquett Moselmane.
It is understood the raids are part of an investigation into claims Chinese government agents have infiltrated Australian politics through influencing the NSW politician.
ASIO said there was no “specific threat to the community” but would not comment further.
The search warrants were executed by agents with the Australian Federal Police.
Mr Morrison said the allegations were “extremely serious”.
“The actions taken by ASIO and the AFP demonstrate that seriousness,” he said.
“I was briefed on these matters last night and advised that they would be taking these actions. “These are matters that I’m also aware of have been under investigation for some time.”
Mr Morrison said Australians were “resilient” and won’t tolerate foreign interference.
“We won’t cop anyone coming and seeking to interfere in our political system, in our energy sector, in any area of perceived area of opportunity for an outside actor,” he said.
“We will stand up to it. And we will take action, as what you’ve seen today demonstrates.”
NSW Labor Leader McKay confirmed the Labor Party had suspended the membership of Mr Moselmane and he would no longer sit in the caucus.
She said she had “no idea of the scope of this investigation”.
“I can’t make any further comment on the scope of this I just don’t know,” she said.
Federal Labor’s attorney general spokesman Mark Dreyfus confirmed the party was briefed about the ongoing foreign interference investigation in Sydney on Friday morning.
“Foreign interference is a real and growing threat that we take very seriously,” he said in a statement.
Mr Dreyfus said authorities must “now be free to properly investigate and do their job, free of any political interference”.
“For that reason, it would be inappropriate to comment further on these allegations,” he said.
FAMILY MEMBERS DEFEND MP
The brother of Shaoquett Moselmane says the Labor MP is a “scapegoat” and a “victim of racism” who has nothing to do with the Chinese Communist Party.
Shawki Moselmane visited his brother’s Rockdale home on Friday afternoon following the raids, and described him as a respectable, honest person and a “whistleblower” who was the victim of a government conspiracy run by the “Zionists and racists”.
“He is pro-Aboriginal people, he helped the poor people, he got China to bring some spare parts, wheelchairs to help the people in need,” Mr Shawki Moselmane said.
“They want to victimise him because they are against China.
“They want to move him away. He doesn’t deal with money or any corruption. They know that he doesn’t even have a dollar.”
Mr Moselmane said his brother visited China for charitable reasons.
“They said he was paid to go to China. He went to China to help the children in need. We know that,” he said.
“He has had the Labor Party in his heart for years and years,” he said.
“He has nothing to do with the Communist Party in China. Nothing at all.”
He said if Australia had listened to his brother, the COVID crisis would have been less serious.
“With the Ruby Princess boat he was the first one to raise the issue of COVID-19 in Australia that Australians have to be careful,” he said.
“If they’d had listened to him from the beginning we wouldn’t have such big numbers.”
Mr Moselmane’s sister Ibtisam Haidar said there was “nothing to hide” after her brother’s home was raided.
Ms Haidar, a full time carer for their sick elderly father Charher, 83, who has a heart condition, said: “It’s some political rubbish.
“We’re allowed to have freedom of speech. I think he’s fine. We’re allowed to be with other countries – what’s wrong with that. There’s nothing to hide.”
AFP agents were coming and going from Mr Moselmane’s Rockdale property on Friday morning, which is next door to her father’s house, but Ms Haidar said she knew nothing.
Ms Haidar said she was worried for her brother.
“Of course it makes me worried,” she said. “At the end of the day that’s my brother. I defend him with all my heart. That’s what everyone would do.
“But for me, gut feeling, there’s nothing wrong. Freedom of speech – nothing else.”
Ms Haidar said she was worried for her father’s stress levels with his heart condition.
“This doesn’t help with the media frenzy. I don’t want my father to become more unwell,” she said.
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NSW Police Minister David Elliott said Labor must go further and expel Mr Moselmane from the party and called on him to resign from parliament “immediately”.
“The Liberal Party has been warning Labor about Moselmane’s trips to China and his relationship with the CCP for years I want to know why he hasn’t taken action sooner,” Mr Elliott said.
Attorney-General Christian Porter authorised the warrants requested by intelligence authorities to gather evidence for the investigation.
The Daily Telegraph understands this was a procedural step that required a reasonable suspicion relevant evidence could be found at the various locations.
Police are guarding Mr Moselmane’s office at NSW Parliament House.
His 11th floor office is currently a construction zone, but police have been stationed at the door.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CALLING OUT CHINA
Intelligence expert Clive Williams said today’s raids may be related to the government putting pressure on China to reign in its espionage activity in Australia.
He said it was well known that one of the Chinese Ministry of State Security’s priorities was to befriend politicians in foreign countries, not necessarily to get them to pass on secret information but to act as unpaid lobbyists and influence government policy in favour of China.
“It’s just a normal part of espionage activity. Many countries do it. It’s been done for a long time,” Professor Williams, a visiting professor at the Australian National University’s Centre for Military and Security Law, said today.
“Sometimes in the security intelligence business a foreign espionage organisation’s activity is allowed to run because it can be a source of useful information.”
But he said today’s raids may be the Australian government calling out China after the recent surge in cyberattacks.
“It’s going to put pressure on China to reign in its espionage activity in Australia,” he said.
Politicians can be brought under foreign influence through meetings with Chinese officials at diplomatic cocktail parties and the like, followed by generous all-expenses-paid visits to China. Subsequent political support for China may be repaid when they leave office by lucrative lobbying contracts with Chinese companies.