Rex Patrick blasts Nick Xenophon over his work with Huawei

Rex Patrick has attacked Nick Xenophon, blasting his work for Chinese company Huawei and comparing it to working for weapon manufacturers under the Nazis.

South Australian senator Rex Patrick has savaged Nick Xenophon for his links to banned Chinese tech giant Huawei, comparing it to working for arms companies under Nazi Germany.

In parliament on Tuesday, Senator Patrick landed the first blow against his former boss-turned-political-opponent, demanding Mr Xenophon comes clean about legal work he did for Huawei during his time outside of parliament.

“He was entitled, as a private individual, to work for whoever he wished,” Senator Patrick said.

“But the choice he made was akin to someone choosing to do PR work for the German companies Krupp or Messerschmitt in 1938.”

Rex Patrick issued the scathing attack in the Senate on Tuesday. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

An outraged Mr Xenophon hit back, telling his former adviser to “get his head out of the clouds”.

“It is unbecoming of Rex Patrick to reference the lead-up to the Holocaust in a miserable attempt to dredge up some votes,” he said.

“The law firm acted for Huawei Australia. They were under ruthless attack and we defended their legal rights, as lawyers do.”

The Malcolm Turnbull government black-listed Huawei in 2018 over widespread security concerns.

Senator Patrick said it had “always been my view” that Mr Xenophon should be “fully transparent” about his work for the company, now that he has announced his intentions to run for the Senate again this year.

Nick Xenophon handing out election pamphlets in Rundle Mall on Sunday to drum up support for his latest federal senate bid. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“In the interests of accountability and transparency, he should make an immediate disclosure of all the details of his work for Huawei,” Senator Patrick said.

“Voters can then make their own judgment.”

Huawei, which has close ties with the Chinese Communist Party, hired Mr Xenophon and his law partner Mark Davis to represent the company after it was banned from supplying 5G mobile internet in Australia.

Mr Xenophon said his firm did not lobby for the company or engage with Canberra.

“We advised them on their legal options in defending themselves,” he said.

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Originally published as Rex Patrick blasts Nick Xenophon over his work with Huawei