Sam Dastyari formally resigns from the Senate

Disgraced Labor Senator Sam Dastyari has formally resigned from the Senate. 

Senate President Scott Ryan today said he had received correspondence from Mr Dastyari informing him of his intention to quit immediately.

Mr Dastyari announced in December he would be quitting the Senate amid mounting controversy over his links to Chinese donor Huang Xiangmo.

In leaked audio, Mr Dastyari was heard contradicting the Labor party's position on the South China Sea during a press conference.

Mr Dastyari had already been stripped of his roles as deputy opposition whip in the Senate and Senate committee chair as a result of the scandal.

In 2016, Mr Dastyari was forced to resign as manager of opposition business after it emerged he had asked a Chinese donor to pay a travel bill. 

Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally is among the frontrunners to replace Mr Dastyari.