An Australian MP at the centre of a controversy linked to growing Chinese influence in the nation’s politics resigned on Tuesday, saying he was a “patriotic Australian” but did not want his personal situation to hurt the Labor party’s prospects of returning to government.
The resignation of Sam Dastyari, a rising opposition star, follows the publication last week of tough legislation aimed at cracking down on espionage and covert attempts by foreign entities to influence Australian politics and society.
“After much reflection, I’ve decided that the best service I can render to the federal parliamentary Labor party is to not return to the Senate in 2018,” said Mr Dastyari, a 34-year-old senator and the first person of Iranian origin to sit in Australia’s parliament.