Culture

#PutOutYourHSPs: Sam Dastyari Has Quit The Labor Frontbench Over The Chinese Expenses Scandal

There are a lot of HSP jokes on Twitter right now.

by Tom Clift  7 September 2016
sam dastyari

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The Labor Senator who shot to prominence after inviting Pauline Hanson to share a Halal Snack Pack, Sam Dastyari is no more. Or at least, he’s no longer a member of the opposition frontbench, after tendering his resignation in the wake of an ongoing expenses scandal.

“The Labor party owes me nothing and I owe the Labor Party everything,” said Dastyari as he prepared to step down from the shadow ministry. “I made a mistake and I am paying the price for that mistake.”

In case you missed all the Coalition crowing over the last week, the resignation is linked to a $1670 travel bill incurred by Dastyari last year that was paid by a company with links to the Chinese government. As if that wasn’t awkward enough, it was then reported that Dastyari had made comments at a press conference for the Chinese media in June where he appear to favour China in the conflict over the South China Sea.

“The South China Sea is China’s own affair. On this issue, Australia should remain neutral and respect China’s decision,” Dastyari is reported to have said. Such remarks would put him at odds with his party’s own policy.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused the NSW Senator of taking “cash for comment,” while Liberal Senator Corey Bernardi called for his resignation. The row has also sparked public debate about the generally dodgy nature of political donations, with Leigh Sales raking Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce over the coals on 7:30 last night over a $50,000 donation he received from mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

Leigh Sales Ripped Into Barnaby Joyce Last Night Over A Donation He Received From Gina Rinehart

After considerable delay, Dastyari held an excruciatingly uncomfortable press conference yesterday in which he admitted that he had “made a mistake” but failed to explain why he did not pay his bill himself. He also denied he had been asked for or would be offering his resignation. It did not go over well.

Nevertheless, it would appear that the issue has finally become big enough for the Senator to step down from the frontbench. Speaking to the media on Wednesday afternoon, Dastyari said that “the ongoing examination of my behaviour is taking attention away from bigger issues,” adding that “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.

Bill Shorten offered his embattled colleague his support, saying that “Sam is a young bloke with a bright future ahead of him. He has a lot more to offer Labor and Australia.”