Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief a personal explanation as I claim to have been misrepresented.

Leave granted.

I wish to clarify a comment attributed to me in former Senator Bob Carr's book, Diary of a Foreign Minister, referenced in an article in today's edition of the Australian. I think it is well-known that former Senator Carr is a very close friend, a supportive mentor and someone who I hold in the highest regard. His book captures a turbulent period in the history of Australia and the history of the Labor Party. It is a fantastic book, and it is hardly surprising that it is already a bestseller.

As the General Secretary of the NSW Branch of the Labor Party, I would speak to Anthony Albanese from time to time on party issues. Mr Albanese expressed the view to me, both privately and publicly, that Labor Party leadership should not be debated in the media and that our focus should be on governing. That was the message I intended to convey to Mr Carr in the conversation referenced in his book and again referenced in today's Australian. I apologise to Mr Carr and others if I left or anyone else the impression that Mr Albanese's concerns extended any further than his desire to prevent the public airing of Labor's dirty laundry.