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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/23/turnbull-says-he-was-not-warned-before-mp-made-donor-bribery-claim-in-parliament
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| Turnbull says he was not warned before MP made donor bribery claim in parliament | Turnbull says he was not warned before MP made donor bribery claim in parliament |
| (7 months later) | |
| Malcolm Turnbull says he had no prior warning of a decision by Andrew Hastie to use parliamentary privilege to name one of Australia’s biggest political donors as the person funding the bribery of a senior United Nations official. | Malcolm Turnbull says he had no prior warning of a decision by Andrew Hastie to use parliamentary privilege to name one of Australia’s biggest political donors as the person funding the bribery of a senior United Nations official. |
| The prime minister told reporters on Wednesday he learned of Hastie’s remarks when he heard them on Tuesday night. Turnbull said MPs had an “ancient” right to make comments under parliamentary privilege, but he said “members have to explain why they do that in circumstances like this”. | The prime minister told reporters on Wednesday he learned of Hastie’s remarks when he heard them on Tuesday night. Turnbull said MPs had an “ancient” right to make comments under parliamentary privilege, but he said “members have to explain why they do that in circumstances like this”. |
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| Hastie used a speech in the parliament’s Federation Chamber on Tuesday night to identify Chinese-Australian billionaire Chau Chak Wing, as “co-conspirator 3” in a 2015 American bribery case, which alleged John Ashe, the former president of the UN general assembly, had been paid to assist in the smooth progress of business deals. | Hastie used a speech in the parliament’s Federation Chamber on Tuesday night to identify Chinese-Australian billionaire Chau Chak Wing, as “co-conspirator 3” in a 2015 American bribery case, which alleged John Ashe, the former president of the UN general assembly, had been paid to assist in the smooth progress of business deals. |
| The Liberal MP said he confirmed Chau’s identity while leading a delegation to the US to discuss Australia’s foreign interference and espionage laws, as the chair of the parliamentary intelligence and security committee and believed it his “duty” to share what he had learnt. | The Liberal MP said he confirmed Chau’s identity while leading a delegation to the US to discuss Australia’s foreign interference and espionage laws, as the chair of the parliamentary intelligence and security committee and believed it his “duty” to share what he had learnt. |
| Turnbull noted on Wednesday morning the allegations ventilated by Hastie were not new. | Turnbull noted on Wednesday morning the allegations ventilated by Hastie were not new. |
| The speech by the intelligence committee chair came in the middle of efforts by the Turnbull government to smooth over tensions in the Australia/China relationship that have flared as a consequence of the government’s crackdown on foreign interference. | The speech by the intelligence committee chair came in the middle of efforts by the Turnbull government to smooth over tensions in the Australia/China relationship that have flared as a consequence of the government’s crackdown on foreign interference. |
| The prime minister on Thursday insisted Australia enjoyed a “strong” and “frank” relationship with China, and he pointed to a recent meeting between Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Argentina. | The prime minister on Thursday insisted Australia enjoyed a “strong” and “frank” relationship with China, and he pointed to a recent meeting between Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Argentina. |
| The Chinese foreign minister was distinctly cooler in his account of the talks. “If Australia sincerely hopes that the relations between the two countries will return to the right track … they must break away from traditional thinking, take off their coloured glasses, and look at China’s development from a positive angle,” Wang said in a translated media statement issued after the meeting. | The Chinese foreign minister was distinctly cooler in his account of the talks. “If Australia sincerely hopes that the relations between the two countries will return to the right track … they must break away from traditional thinking, take off their coloured glasses, and look at China’s development from a positive angle,” Wang said in a translated media statement issued after the meeting. |
| On Tuesday night, Chau’s lawyer, Mark O’Brien, told the Australian that Hastie had used parliamentary privilege to “slander” Chau before a trial in defamation proceedings against Fairfax Media. | On Tuesday night, Chau’s lawyer, Mark O’Brien, told the Australian that Hastie had used parliamentary privilege to “slander” Chau before a trial in defamation proceedings against Fairfax Media. |
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| Fairfax and the ABC have reported Chau Chak Wing was suspected of being “co-conspirator 3 or CC3”. Chau has denied the allegation and launched legal action. | Fairfax and the ABC have reported Chau Chak Wing was suspected of being “co-conspirator 3 or CC3”. Chau has denied the allegation and launched legal action. |
| “Dr Chau has brought these defamation proceedings to give his accusers the opportunity to prove their allegations in court,” O’Brien said. “If he was concerned about them, he would not have exposed himself to these proceedings.” | “Dr Chau has brought these defamation proceedings to give his accusers the opportunity to prove their allegations in court,” O’Brien said. “If he was concerned about them, he would not have exposed himself to these proceedings.” |
| O’Brien said Chau had been given a pseudonym by the FBI to protect his reputation because he was not a suspect. | O’Brien said Chau had been given a pseudonym by the FBI to protect his reputation because he was not a suspect. |
| While Labor has not made any overt criticism of Hastie’s public intervention, the shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, said the contribution raised a number of questions. | While Labor has not made any overt criticism of Hastie’s public intervention, the shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, said the contribution raised a number of questions. |
| “I think we need to know more about how this information came to Mr Hastie, if it was from a foreign intelligence agency or the intelligence community that is an issue that we should know about and the implications of that,” Bowen told the ABC. | “I think we need to know more about how this information came to Mr Hastie, if it was from a foreign intelligence agency or the intelligence community that is an issue that we should know about and the implications of that,” Bowen told the ABC. |
| “I think that what Mr Hastie raises is very serious, I do think there are very legitimate issues to traverse as to how this has happened under parliamentary privilege: he is entitled as a member of parliament to do that but he does also play a role in a very important parliamentary committee,” he said. | “I think that what Mr Hastie raises is very serious, I do think there are very legitimate issues to traverse as to how this has happened under parliamentary privilege: he is entitled as a member of parliament to do that but he does also play a role in a very important parliamentary committee,” he said. |
| “I think we need to have more information about whether this was sanctioned by the government, how this information came to Mr Hastie, whether other agencies were informed that he was going to do this. | “I think we need to have more information about whether this was sanctioned by the government, how this information came to Mr Hastie, whether other agencies were informed that he was going to do this. |
| “I think that these are all legitimate questions which no doubt over the course of the next 24 hours will be traversed.” | “I think that these are all legitimate questions which no doubt over the course of the next 24 hours will be traversed.” |
| Hastie told the chamber on Tuesday night he was naming Chau to ensure Australia’s democracy and free press could operate without interference. | Hastie told the chamber on Tuesday night he was naming Chau to ensure Australia’s democracy and free press could operate without interference. |
| Julie Bishop raises objections to China's activities in South China Sea | |
| “CC3 is a Chinese-Australian citizen. He has also been a very significant donor to both of our major political parties,” he said. | “CC3 is a Chinese-Australian citizen. He has also been a very significant donor to both of our major political parties,” he said. |
| “He has given more than $4m since 2004. He has also donated $45m to universities in Australia. The Australian press has reported these matters, and others, and have been sued for defamation by CC3. | “He has given more than $4m since 2004. He has also donated $45m to universities in Australia. The Australian press has reported these matters, and others, and have been sued for defamation by CC3. |
| “CC3 disputes a number of the reported allegations. | “CC3 disputes a number of the reported allegations. |
| “The merits of these defamation cases are appropriately left for a court. My concern is defamation cases can have a chilling effect on our free press. | “The merits of these defamation cases are appropriately left for a court. My concern is defamation cases can have a chilling effect on our free press. |
| “Any attempt to silence our media from our telling the truth, provided it is the truth, through a defamation claim can not stand. | “Any attempt to silence our media from our telling the truth, provided it is the truth, through a defamation claim can not stand. |
| “Our democracy only works if we have a free press which can publish information which serves the public interest. | “Our democracy only works if we have a free press which can publish information which serves the public interest. |
| “We don’t always like what the press writes, but they are essential to a free and flourishing democracy. The Australian people deserve the truth.” | “We don’t always like what the press writes, but they are essential to a free and flourishing democracy. The Australian people deserve the truth.” |
| Malcolm Turnbull | Malcolm Turnbull |
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| United Nations | United Nations |
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