George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Was Senator Dastyari aware of Mr Zhu's links with the Chinese government? At a press conference on 17 June 2016, Senator Dastyari stood alongside Huang Xiangmo, Chairman of the Yuhu Group, which is a substantial political donor with a history with Senator Dastyari. This Tuesday, 30 August, Mr Huang was reported in The Australian Financial Review as having been quoted in Chinese media complaining that Australian MPs were 'not delivering' on donations from the Chinese community. Given the support for China's position on the South China Sea, delivered alongside Mr Huang in Sydney only this June, Senator Dastyari needs to answer whether he is in fact 'delivering' on the extensive support provided to him.

On 20 November 2014 Senator Dastyari disclosed on the Register of Senators' Interests 'support for settlement of outstanding legal matter provided by Yuhu Group Pty Ltd'. Once again, this is not a political donation but appears to be the provision of a personal financial benefit. In that regard, I bring to the attention of the Senate Senator Dastyari's declaration of the payment from Yuhu Group and ask Senator Dastyari to answer the following questions in relation to that financial benefit. What was the specific nature of the debt? What was the method of payment of the settlement amount? Was there only one payment or were there multiple payments? When was the settlement amount paid? How was it receipted? What was the method of payment? Was there only one payment or were there multiple payments?

Senator Conroy interjecting—