Dastyari 'grilled defence officials' over China concerns

Labor Senator Sam Dastyari’s close ties to China are in the spotlight again after he reportedly badgered defence bureaucrats at least 115 times with questions about Chinese concerns.

Senator Dastyari’s questioning of the-then secretary of the Defence Department, Dennis Richardson and DFAT secretary Peter Varghese run counter to his claims that he misspoke in backing China’s South China Seas policy during a media conference with donor Huang Xiangmo, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Examination of estimate committee transcripts by the Telegraph reveal Senator Dastyari asked at least 115 questions concerning Chinese interests over a three-year period.

They included the Chinese military build-up in the South China Sea and Australia’s close relationship with Japan.

But last night Senator Dastyari defended his questions, telling the Telegraph he was “holding this hopeless government to account”.