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

They are important because foreign intelligence services are engaged in covert influence and interference on an unprecedented scale. Yet, while the Turnbull government is taking serious action against those threats, the opposite is true of the Labor Party. The Labor Party are not denying, nor seeking to offer an explanation for, the serious allegations of foreign influence and interference made in relation to Senator Dastyari. Instead, they have desperately tried to distract from the central issue by questioning where the allegations have come from. In doing so, of course, they have implicitly acknowledged these allegations are true—as Senator Dastyari, given the opportunity by the Senate last Thursday to address the allegations, neither explained nor denied them and must thereby be taken to have admitted them. This is a serious test for the integrity of the Labor Party and Bill Shorten. Not only have they refused to take necessary action against Senator Dastyari; they are covering up for him. (Time expired)