Dastyari had to go, now the rules have to change

By Michael Gordon
Updated January 28 2018 - 9:48am, first published September 8 2016 - 2:49pm
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was backing senator Sam Dastyari just hours before he quit. Photo: Jason South
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was backing senator Sam Dastyari just hours before he quit. Photo: Jason South
Senator Sam Dastyari will be a backbencher but could be back. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Sam Dastyari will be a backbencher but could be back. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Sam Dastyari listens as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addresses caucus meeting at the Opposition party room at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 23 February 2016. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Sam Dastyari listens as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addresses caucus meeting at the Opposition party room at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 23 February 2016. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Sam Dastyari listens as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addresses caucus meeting at the Opposition party room at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 23 February 2016. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Sam Dastyari listens as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addresses caucus meeting at the Opposition party room at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 23 February 2016. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Finally, Sam Dastyari has accepted that he must pay the price for an appalling judgement and his totally inadequate attempt to explain it away.