Sam Dastyari denies he is the ex-politician singled out by ASIO boss – as Malcolm Turnbull’s son reveals how he was targeted by foreign spies

A former Labor senator whose political career was ended by a storm over his links to a Chinese businessman has categorically denied he is the mystery figure Australia’s spy boss claims ‘sold out their country’. 

Ex-NSW senator Sam Dastyari sensationally quit politics in 2017 amid intense scrutiny over his links to Chinese real estate developer and political donor Huang Xiangmo. 

Mr Dastyari – who has always insisted he is a patriotic Australian – was labelled a ‘Peking schmuck’ by the tabloids after it was revealed he accepted money from Chinese donors.

He allowed Mr Huang to pay a $5,000 legal bill for him while he was an elected senator, and forwarded a $1,670 travel bill to a company with links to the Chinese government.  

Mr Dastyari admitted meeting Mr Huang, but denied any wrongdoing in the meeting where he allegedly told Mr Huang his phones were being tapped. 

In the years since Mr Dastyari resigned from Parliament, Mr Huang has been blocked from re-entering Australia and had both his Australian passport and permanent residency cancelled, on the recommendation of ASIO. 

Former Labor senator Sam Dastyari has catagorically ruled himself out of the hunt for the mystery spy who allegedly ‘sold out their country’

On Wednesday evening, ASIO chief Mike Burgess 9above) gave a landmark speech where he said a now-former, unnamed politician had allegedly ‘sold out their country’ to an overseas power

On Wednesday evening, ASIO chief Mike Burgess gave a landmark speech where he said a now-former, unnamed politician had allegedly ‘sold out their country’ to an overseas power.

‘This politician sold out their country, party and former colleagues to advance the interests of the foreign regime,’ Mr Burgess said. 

He refused to name the person, only giving clues including that the person involved was a former politician, that the incident took place several years ago, and he doubted the unnamed politician would do it again. 

Mr Dastyari refuted speculation that has erupted on social media in the hours since. He told Daily Mail Australia the incident had ‘zero to do with me’, and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.

‘I’m not jumping into any commentary,’ he added.

It comes as Alex Turnbull, the son of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, revealed to news.com.au that he was targeted by suspected Chinese agents over an infrastructure project – and reported it to spy agencies.

His father was PM at the time. ‘It was just so brazen,’ he told the news website. He did not specify exactly which infrastructure project he was referring to in the interview.  

Malcolm Turnbull’s son Alex (centre) made the comments to news.com.au on Thursday

New laws were only introduced in 2018 to combat foreign interference.

What else is known about the politician is that ‘at one point, the former politician even proposed bringing a prime minister’s family member into the spies’ orbit,’ Mr Burgess said. 

‘Fortunately that plot did not go ahead but other schemes did. Personally, I don’t think they’ll be stupid enough to repeat what they’ve done in the past, so problem neutralised, harm in some elements was done.’

The ASIO chief said the politician involved had cut ties with the foreign service and is not a national security risk, and added that foreign spies were posing as consultants, head-hunters, local government officials, academics and think tank researchers, claiming to be from fictional companies such as Data 31.’

Mr Burgess’s comments have sparked uproar in Canberra and beyond, with politicians past and present arguing their reputations were under a cloud due to the speculation. 

His defiant denial comes on the back of a social media storm trying to find links between Mr Burgess’ comments and former politicians

The Opposition’s Senate leader Simon Birmingham called on Home Affairs Minister Claire O’Neil to ‘step forward and provide that information – as much of it as she possibly can’.

‘It is for the Minister for Home Affairs to use the protection and privileges of Parliament, perhaps to be able to do that,’ he said.

Mr Birmingham said providing such clarity would ‘avoid that type of smear against all serving or all former politicians’.

‘There is clearly significant public interest in this matter. That public interest deserves to be addressed as transparently as possible.

He clarified that he does not know who the person involved in the incident is, but added: ‘Plenty of questions will be asked, particularly given some of the stories that have been well publicised in the past about certain former members of Parliament, their departure from this Parliament and the like.’

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is equally keen for the person involved to be named.

‘It’s pretty rough to essentially [be] besmirching former politicians when [Burgess is] talking about one, and the trouble is, if he doesn’t indicate the name, then there’s a cloud hanging over everybody else,’ Mr Dutton said.

‘I think it is unfair on a lot of former MPs who are patriotic, as 99.9 per cent on both sides are, and if there’s one that they’ve identified who’s not, then frankly that person should be outed and shamed.’