Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

It says a lot about the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues that they think that Senator Dastyari's position is humorous. We have a Labor senator who has been working on behalf of a foreign government, who has been reading talking points about important matters of national security on behalf of a foreign government, who has been taking money from foreign nationals closely linked to that foreign government, and what did he get? Oh, sort of a rap over the knuckle with a wet lettuce. Now we find him in a position where he is giving countersurveillance advice to a Chinese national, Mr Huang, who he believes may be under surveillance by ASIO. Of course, the matters relating to Mr Huang are obviously matters that the Leader of the Opposition is familiar with. It is said Senator Dastyari was advised through a back channel by the Leader of the Opposition. It would be good to hear Senator Dastyari and the Leader of the Opposition tell us some more about that. Senator Dastyari went to the premises, the home, of Mr Huang, and he told him that he may be under surveillance by ASIO and how to avoid that surveillance. In other words, he was actively working against our Security Intelligence Organisation, whose job it is to keep us safe, and Labor thinks that's all a bit of a joke. Well, Australians believe national security is the primary obligation not just of the government but of every member of this House and our Senate. Senator Dastyari failed. He failed the loyalty test. He failed the allegiance test because he did not put Australia's interests first. Senator Dastyari should go, and every day he stays there is an indictment on the character of the Leader of the Opposition.

Honourable members interjecting—

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