Labor senator Sam Dastyari to resign next week

SENATOR Sam Dastyari will formally resign next week, opening the door for former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally to enter Parliament.

Senator Sam Dastyari. Picture: AAP

LABOR senator Sam Dastyari will resign from Parliament next week, more than a month after he said he would quit because of his links to China.

The Herald Sun has confirmed Senator Dastyari will formally resign next week, opening the door for former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally to enter Parliament next month.

Kristina Keneally. Picture: SKY

Senator Dastyari has cashed in more than $15,000 from his $200,000 annual salary since he announced his resignation on December 12.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said earlier today that Senator Dastyari would resign “very soon”.

Asked if it was appropriate that he was still getting paid, Mr Shorten said: “I’m sure he’s just finishing up the matters which he had outstanding.”