I like Sam Dastyari. He has more balls than most. But he’s put them in a Chinese sling and he has to go, from The Australian:
Labor senator Sam Dastyari has apologised for accepting money from Chinese companies amid fresh revelations the Yuhu group, which paid a $40,000 legal bill for the frontbencher, has formal ties with the Chinese government through its own internal Communist Party committee.
Huang Xiangmo, chairman of the Yuhu Group, which has branches in both countries, also gave $525,000 to Australian political parties in 2014-15 and complained recently that Chinese donors were being used as “cash cows” by major parties and then ignored.
The Australian can reveal the website of the Chinese branch of Yuhu, based in Shenzhen, the city of 11 million bordering Hong Kong, lists activities of its own Communist Party branch.
Mr Huang also gave $1.8 million for the establishment of the Bob Carr-led Australia China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, and is president of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, the core body that links pro-People’s Republic of China donors and Australian politicians.
Yet another reason to always disregard the utterances of Bob Carr and his partner in crime the ultra-super-uber China bull Professor James Laurenceson on China.
Back on message, here’s what Bill Shorten had say on our Sam yesterday, from the ABC:
Mr Shorten today dismissed the insinuations, saying that he had “explained to Senator Dastyari our policy on the South China Sea and he has expressed his unreserved support for our policy”.
He told reporters in Melbourne that Senator Dastyari had been severely counselled after his “imprudent decision”.
“I’ve spoken to him severely and I’ve made it crystal clear that this is not the behaviour I expect in the future from him,” Mr Shorten said.
“I am prepared however to give him a second chance because I think he can make a contribution to this country.”
Not good enough, Bill. Loyalty to your colleagues is admirable. Loyalty to your country essential.
It doesn’t matter if Mr Dastyari had no ill-intentions and it was an honest mistake. This is Westminster democracy and the standards are set via normatives by our parliametarians.
As well, how can Labor prosecute a bank royal commission or any other reform against corruption when the immediate come back will henceforth be “what about Sino Sam”?
It’s in the national interest that Mr Dastyari resign.
