Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to the foreign minister's acceptance of a media tablet, airfares and accommodation from Huawei. Has the foreign minister ever advocated, within government, in the interests of Huawei?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A number of members of this House, particularly when in opposition, have accepted sponsored travel. Indeed, the member for Rankin last year accepted travel from Huawei. I believe this is the corporation to which you refer. So, when the member for Rankin accepted sponsored travel from Huawei, I assume he declared it, as did I, as did a number of other members of this House. And there was an iPad, because Huawei is a technology company, and I donated the iPad to a school. I did not use it; I donated it to a school. So I question where the shadow Attorney-General is seeking to go with this, because, if you want to see an example of money buying influence, look no further than Senator Sam Dastyari. That is where we have an example of money buying influence. Not only does he have his personal bills paid by this Chinese entity but then he goes to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices and—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Foreign Affairs will resume her seat. Members on my right will cease interjecting. The member for Isaacs on a point of order?

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. Thank you. The question—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. You state the point of order; you do not restate the question. The member for Isaacs on a point of order.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Relevance. The foreign minister was asked whether she—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will resume his seat. There is no point of order. Just before I call the foreign minister: the member for Isaacs well knows that he asked a very long question, and he has taken a point of order. I am entitled to rule on the point of order as soon as it is made. There is no point of order. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has the call.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So, having received money into his pocket to pay his own personal debts, by a Chinese entity—

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's the answer to the question?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs has already been warned.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sam Dastyari then calls a press conference at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices. He stands at a dais with the Commonwealth emblem at the front, with Australian flags behind, and, with his Chinese benefactors, then declares a position on the South China Sea which is totally at odds with the Labor Party and with Australian government policy. That is when you are bought by a Chinese corporation. That is what Sam Dastyari did.

What I like about this tawdry little story is the way that the Leader of the Opposition stood by Senator Dastyari. He said:

In terms of Senator Dastyari, he has spoken to me directly about this issue. … I don't buy into Mr Turnbull's petty insinuations of anything untoward in terms of Senator Dastyari’s motivations.

Well, Senator Dastyari knew that he had been bought by a Chinese corporation. That is when money buys influence, whereas, in the case of the Australian government, our position on the South China Sea has been consistent throughout—before the arbitration, after the arbitration—and it is in Australia's national interest.