Sam Dastyari was a ‘protégé who became an extraordinary politician’

SAM DASTYARI was a talented Senator who was more effective than the majority of his colleagues and his unrelenting drive will be a loss to the Parliament, writes Sharri Markson.

SAM Dastyari, the protégé of Graham Richardson who married into the family of experienced political guru Peter Barron, was an extraordinary politician.

Before we delve into the unforgiveable Chinese “cash for comment” scandal that saw him stand aside, let’s recognise that Dastyari was a talented Senator and a gifted communicator who was more effective than the majority of his lazy colleagues.

Mr Dastyari as Young Labor president at NSW Parliament House in Sydney.

The banking royal commission now announced by the Turnbull Government – Dastyari’s idea.

The crackdown on multinational tax avoidance companies - an inquiry driven by Dastyari.

He also led an inquiry into the future of public interest journalism and worked to expose former SBS Chairman Nihal Gupta’s inappropriate claim to the role after his CV wasn’t what it appeared to be.

Dastyari’s unrelenting drive will unequivocally be a loss to the Parliament.

EDITORIAL: DASTYARI HAS DONE HIS DASH

DASTYARI’S LUNCH DONATION REVEALED

Mr Dastyari with his daughter after being sworn into parliament.

I say this having written front-page stories on how Dastyari asked over 115 questions of our most senior defence and foreign affairs officials, swallowing the Chinese line and attacking Australia’s close alliance with the United States and Japan.

The former NSW General Secretary’s fatal error was following the lead of senior Labor figure Bob Carr.

There were concerns about Carr’s pro-China attitude from virtually the moment he was appointed Australia’s Foreign Minister.

10 days after Carr was sworn into the role in 2012, Kurt Campbell, then US assistant secretary of state, raised concerns about his closeness to China over breakfast in Sydney’s Park Hyatt hotel.

Kissing Justice Party Senator Derryn Hinch while cutting a cake to promote Marriage Equality in August. Picture: Mick Tsikas

With his favourite Halal Snack pack at Metro 1 Kebab Bar in Ashfield. Picture: John Appleyard

After his time as foreign minister, where he had access to classified documents, Carr then went to work for a Chinese think-tank.

Yes, Dastyari exercised appalling judgement in allowing a powerful Chinese donor to bankroll personal debts, while he pushed their agenda in Parliament.

But in many ways, Dastyari is a sacrificial lamb of the Labor Party whose senior figures were all too willing to continue raking in Chinese donations even after receiving serious security warnings from ASIO.