Shaoquett Moselmane: NSW Labor MP says he’s not a suspect in ASIO China probe
Soon-to-be-suspended NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane is under pressure to forego his parliamentary salary while he is on “self-imposed exile” with leader Jodi McKay’s response to the scandal slammed as “woefully inadequate”.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- ASIO raids: Labor MP ‘victim of racism’ says brother
- Chinese journo in bizarre scuffle at PM’s press conference
Embattled Upper House MP Shaoquett Moselmane is under pressure to forego his parliamentary salary while he is on “self-imposed exile”.
Police Minister David Elliott criticised Mr Moselmane for taking an “extended paid holiday,” after the MP declared he would take leave of parliament during an investigation into allegations of foreign interference.
Mr Elliott told The Daily Telegraph that Labor Leader Jodi McKay’s response to the scandal has been “woefully inadequate”.
“Jodi McKay just can’t wash her hands in this serious matter by allowing Mr Moselmane take an extended paid holiday.
“No other worker in the state can simply “down tools” and continue collecting a salary whilst embroiled in a matter of national security,” Mr Elliott said.
“Jodi McKay must insist that Moselmane forfeit his parliamentary salary while he’s on self imposed exile. To do anything else makes a mockery of her claim that Labor will “fix this issue”,” he said.
Moselmane yesterday declared he has “done nothing wrong” following dramatic police raids of his home and office, saying he is “not a suspect” in an investigation into allegations Chinese agents sought to infiltrate his office.
The embattled Upper House MP broke his silence after Ms McKay declared her party would move to suspend Mr Moselmane from parliament during the investigation.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that at a leadership meeting on Sunday, Labor’s shadow attorney-general Paul Lynch raised concerns about suspending Mr Moselmane because he has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Mr Lynch would not comment yesterday.
Mr Moselmane yesterday said he will take leave from the Upper House during the investigation into alleged foreign interference. The move means he and his staff will be banned from entering parliament. He also declared he and his staff will not access work emails, computers, or phones during the investigation.
In a 12-minute statement on Monday, Mr Moselmane insisted he was not a “suspect” of an AFP investigation.
“The investigation is into certain other people allegedly advancing the goals of a foreign government, namely the People‘s Republic of China.
“I’m not sure what those goals are,” he said.
Mr Moselmane claimed he was the subject of a “political lynching (which) has already commenced,” denied he had ever been on a Beijing-sponsored China trip and defended his comments praising China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said his views were consistent with the World Health Organisation and Donald Trump.
Mr Moselmane also said China’s investment in Australia has “kept our economy afloat,” and Chinese Australians should not be attacked.
“The Australian Chinese community has been under sustained political, racial and physical abuse,” he said echoing the rhetoric of Beijing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investigations into foreign interference were “very, very concerning”.
“The raid on the home of the NSW Labor Upper House MP is a very serious issue for ASIO and the AFP,” he said.
The upper house MP was suspended from the Labor Party on Friday following the raids and today described the situation as a “political lynching.”
“Sadly, the political lynching has already commenced. Let me tell you, I have done nothing wrong. I have done nothing wrong. I have never jeopardised the welfare of our country and our people,” he said.
Originally published as Shaoquett Moselmane: NSW Labor MP says he’s not a suspect in ASIO China probe