Officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and ASIO have raided NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane's home and office in Sydney this morning.
Key points:
- The Australian Federal Police and ASIO said they executed the search "as part of an ongoing investigation"
- Labor is co-operating with the agencies
- NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said he was "horrified" by the allegations
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay confirmed she was aware of the raids, and that the party would suspend Mr Moselmane's membership.
Ms McKay described reports that Mr Moselmane's office had allegedly been infiltrated by Chinese government agents as "dreadfully concerning".
"I was advised early this morning that there had been search warrants executed on the home of Mr Moselmane," she said.
Ms McKay said suspending Mr Moselmane's membership was "the right thing to do".
In identical statements, the AFP and ASIO said they were "executing search warrants in Sydney this morning as part of an ongoing investigation".
Ms McKay said Labor was cooperating with the agencies involved.
When asked about allegations Mr Moselmane's office had been infiltrated by Chinese government agents, Ms McKay said: "It's dreadfully concerning, it's terrible."
"There is an expectation on MPs that whatever they do is in the best interest of the people in this state.
"And I would hope that every single MP in the Parliament, not just on the Labor side but the Liberal and the National party side, the crossbench, has that as the heart of the their actions as an MP."
Ms McKay said she would receive a briefing from the AFP and ASIO later today.
If Mr Moselmane is charged he would be the first person to face legal action under the federal government’s legislation to counter foreign interference.
The ABC has previously been told that national security organisations have been "chomping at the bit" to get "a few scalps".
The AFP and ASIO statements said, despite the raids, there was "no current or impending threat to community safety".
"As this investigation remains ongoing, there will be no further comment."
Attorney-General Christian Porter said Federal Government was "sharply focussed on activity in this area".
The number one priority for our Government is to keep Australians safe from those who seek to do us harm.
"Espionage and foreign interference represent a serious threat to Australia's sovereignty and security and the integrity of our national institutions," he said.
"I am aware of recent operational activity in regard to the execution of search warrants in NSW and related media reporting."
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said he was "horrified" by the situation and urged Labor to act quickly.
"I think most Australians would just shake their head at this," he said.
"This type of investigation is so serious — we've got to see what comes of it, but there's too much smoke here and it's ultimately really incumbent upon Jodi McKay to step up."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTI2L25zdy1sYWJvci1tcC1zaGFvcXVldHQtbW9zZWxtYW5lLWhvbWUtcmFpZGVkLWJ5LXBvbGljZS8xMjM5NTcxMtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjM5NTcxMg?oc=5
2020-06-26 02:31:43Z
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