Dastyari ducks Sydney book launch

Embattled senator Sam Dastyari has pulled out of a Sydney event where he was set to launch a book titled What A Time to Be Alive.

Senator Dastyari was billed to appear at the event for Buzzfeed reporter Mark di Stefano's new book, which claims to be an "expose of unscripted moments with political leaders" on Thursday night but pulled out just after midday.

The senator resigned from the opposition frontbench over payments he accepted from a Chinese-affiliated business to pay off a debt he incurred when he exceeded his parliamentary travel entitlements.

His colleague, federal MP Terri Butler, will fill in for the senator.