30th Nov 2017, 1:36 PM – Senate Motions - Dastyari, Senator Sam - Take note of statement

The majority voted against clause (2) of Liberal Senator George Brandis' motion, which means it failed.

Motion text

That—

(1) Senator Dastyari be required to attend the Senate chamber at 3 pm. On 30 November 2017 to make a statement of not more than 20 minutes, addressing:

(a) the nature of his relationship with Mr Huang Xiangmo;

(b) the allegations made by Fairfax media on 29 November 2017 that Senator Dastyari gave Mr Huang counter-surveillance advice and conduct a covert conversation with him during a meeting at Mr Huang's home in October 2016, including full details of the covert conversation;

(c) the press conference held by Senator Dastyari on 17 June 2016, and in particular:

(i) the nature of Mr Huang's involvement in the decision to hold the press conference;

(ii) full details of what was said by him at the press conference;

(iii) the reason why he used the press conference to specifically contradict official Labor Party policy on Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea;

(iv) the reason the press conference was restricted to Chinese language media; and

(v) why he subsequently gave untruthful accounts of what he had said at the press conference;

(d) the nature and value of all payments made to or on behalf of Senator Dastyari by Mr Huang or at his direction.

(2) That any Senator may take note of Senator Dastyari's statement for a period of up to 90 minutes.