Senator James Paterson delivered a blistering speech in the Senate over Mr Xenophon's legal work for the Chinese telecommunications giant.
Former senator Nick Xenophon's claims that his legal work for Chinese telecommunications exempt him from registering on the foreign influence register are wrong, Liberal senator James Paterson has said.
"I have had enough of politicians and they have probably had enough of me," Mr Xenophon said. "There are others within Huawei that do a very good [job talking] to members of Parliament and ministers."Senator Paterson said Mr Xenophon did need to comply with the law as contact with elected representatives was not the only criteria for the scheme.
"This is despite the fact that in the Senate he called for reform of defamation laws and warned about the impact they were having on public interest journalism," Senator Paterson told the Senate. "Reputations are hard won, but easily lost. If Mr Xenophon wants to throw his away representing a company so widely condemned, then that is a sad end to a career of public service."In 2017, Mr Xeonophon criticised DFAT and Defence for buying Huwaei phones as "bizarre". He also proposed a five-year ban on retired ministers doing any lobbying when former Labor senator Stephen Conroy went to work for the Responsible Wagering Council.
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