Asia Today (1/12/2017)

Concerns over China's influence in Australian politics again raised after Labor Senator Sam Dastyari was heard supporting China in the South China Sea disputes during a press conference flanked by Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo.

Senator Sam Dastyari and Mr Huang Xiangmo (first from the left) were at a media conference on the 17th June, 2016. Source: Supplied by Sam Dastyari's office

Both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julia Bishop say Senator Dastyari needs to consider his position in the Senate and the Labor party.

Labor leader Bill Shorten is rejecting calls to dump Senator Sam Dastyari, despite admitting he's lost faith in the Senator and sacking him from his two Senate leadership roles.

It has also been revealed that Senator Dastyari met privately with Mr Huang, telling his phone was probably being tapped by security agencies.