China link NSW MP Shaoquett Moselmane fighting to keep his job

Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane is seeking to overturn his suspension from the NSW Labor Party.

NSW MP Shaoquett Moselmane. Picture: John Feder

Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane is seeking to overturn his suspension from the NSW Labor Party following a federal police investigation that saw his home and ­office raided over concerns about foreign interference.

Mr Moselmane has flagged his intention to appeal his suspension with NSW Labor’s administrative committee, arguing he is not under formal investigation by any agencies and therefore should not be suspended. The 55-year-old was suspended in June as federal agents raided his home and that of his part-time staffer, John Zhang. Both men were questioned as part of an inquiry concerning foreign interference by the Chinese Community Party.

The investigation was carried out in conjunction with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, which took the unprecedented step of confirming its role in the operation at the time.

The Australian understands Mr Moselmane’s appeal will be predicated on the notion that ­neither ASIO nor the AFP are treating him as a suspect. Asked whether this was true, the AFP said it would “not comment on an ongoing investigation”. In general it is not standard practice for police to exonerate a person while an investigation into their affairs is afoot.

Mr Moselmane’s suspension from the ALP has meant he has been denied access to caucus and branch meetings. A motion to suspend him from parliament is also expected to be moved once sittings resume next week, an intention first flagged by Labor leader Jodie McKay in the hours after his home was searched by officers.

The upper house MP is currently on leave from parliament pending the outcome of the police inquiry. He was unable to be reached for comment on Monday.

Ms McKay told The Australian: “I stand by my decision. His suspension from the party is appropriate given the ongoing investigation by federal agencies.”

Mr Moselmane, who has visited China nine times in a decade, has been a significant pro-Beijing voice in the ALP. He once called for China to “create a new world order” and praised the leadership of president Xi Jinping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his only public remarks about the matter, made three days after the raid on his home, Mr Moselmane said media coverage of the investigation had been a “political lynching” designed to destabilise the Labor Party in the lead up to the Eden-Monaro byelection. He defended his previous remarks on China and stated publicly that he was “not a suspect in this investigation”.

“My allegiance is first and foremost to Australia,” he said. “In a democracy you are taught to express your views and the views I expressed on China and its leadership handling of the coronavirus were consistent with those of President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as well as World Health Organisation. My views on China are, in my opinion, views that any Australian is entitled to, to have or to refute.”

NSW Labor secretary Bob Nanva did not respond to requests for comment on Mr Moselmane’s intention to appeal, though a source said the likelihood of its success would be low while the police matter was in train.

The Australian has previously reported that the federal police inquiry was notionally centred on the activities of Mr Zhang, Mr Moselmane’s staffer. No charges have been laid against either of the men since the matter was made public.

Mr Moselmane is a founding member of the Australian Chinese Association and the honorary chairman of the Australian Shanghainese Association, parliamentary disclosures state. Mr Zhang was similarly the honorary chairman of the latter association.