Labor senator Sam Dastyari has announced that he is resigning from the shadow frontbench, in the fallout from a the flood of criticism he received for allowing asking a company linked to the Chinese government to pay off a personal debt.
He was heavily questioned about what the nature of his relationship to the company was that would lead him to ask them to pay off the $1670 travel debt, and whether this relationship at all influenced Dastyari’s position on the South China Sea dispute, which was at odds with Labor policy.
He made the announcement at a press conference this afternoon, telling reporters that, primarily, he didn’t want what he had done to distract from what the Government is doing:
“It’s clear that the ongoing examination of my behaviour is taking away from bigger issues facing Australia and australians. yesterday i called a press conference and answered questions, today I’ve reflected on that, and decided that wasn’t enough.
“It’s clear to me now that this has become a distraction, the last thing a government as bad and divided as this one deserves is a free pass.
“I refuse to be the reason they escape proper scrutiny.”
He is still yet to answer questions about why he solicited the payment, but he has admitted fault:
“I made a mistake and I am paying the price for that mistake.”
You can watch the presser right here:
Labor Senator Sam Dastyari announces his resignation from the Opposition frontbench over donation scandal #auspol https://t.co/DYy3QWOHaO
— ABC News (@abcnews) September 7, 2016
The controversy has sparked heated debate in parliament over implementing laws prohibiting foreign donors to prevent things like this from happening again.
Source and photo: Twitter.
