Sam Dastyari told to resign from senior Labor positions
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has told senator Sam Dastyari to resign from his senior Labor positions in the Senate.
“Last night I spoke to Senator Sam Dastyari and told him to resign from his senior Labor positions in the Senate,” Mr Shorten said in a statement on Friday.
“It is not a decision I took lightly. I told Senator Dastyari that his mischaracterisation of how he came to make comments contradicting Labor policy made his position untenable.
“I also told him that while I accept his word that he never had, nor disclosed, any classified information, his handling of these matters showed a lack of judgment.”
It comes after a recording was leaked on Wednesday of Dastyari allegedly defending China’s South China Sea policy.
He is also under fire after he reportedly told a Chinese donor that his phone may be under surveillance.
Mr Shorten said he knows “Dastyari will learn from this experience.”
Dastyari is expected to inform the senate of his resignations this morning.
A new recording has raised more questions about the conduct of powerful Labor Senator Sam Dastyari and his dealings with a wealthy Chinese donor. @QuentinMcDermott says the recording is “highly significant.” pic.twitter.com/gw9ytQymo7
— ABC News (@abcnews) November 29, 2017
