Nazi Germany has been invoked in a spat between Nick Xenophon and a former ally, who compared Mr Xenophon’s legal work for Chinese tech giant Huawei to paying arms makers Germans on the eve of World War II.
Key points:
- Rex Patrick is pushing for Nick Xenophon to disclose more details about his work for Huawei
- Mr Xenophon hit back, insisting it was a strict client-attorney relationship
- Senator Patrick invoked Nazi Germany – an analogy fiercely rejected by Mr Xenophon
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In an extraordinary speech to the Federal Parliament, Independent Senator Rex Patrick lashed out at Mr Xenophon, who was hired by Huawei more than two years ago when the company was banned from providing 5G services in Australia.
Mr. Xenophon strenuously dismissed Senator Patrick’s comments, calling them a “shame” and a “miserable” attempt to woo voters.
Both men recently announced their intention to seek re-election to the Senate in the upcoming federal election, turning them into electoral enemies and sparking an escalating war of words between them.
« [Mr Xenophon] had the right, as an individual, to work for whoever he wanted,” Senator Patrick said in the Senate last night.
Krupp was a major arms supplier to the Third Reich, while Messerschmitt was an aircraft company that built planes for the Luftwaffe which were then deployed to raze European cities.
Senator Patrick continued his mess by accusing Mr. Xenophon of treating Huawei as an “underdog” rather than a “vast Chinese conglomerate”.
“Mr. Xenophon now says he hasn’t worked for Huawei for some time, although we don’t know when he stopped. He now claims to support the Australian government’s 5G ban on Huawei,” said Senator Patrick.
“As a declared candidate for the Senate, he should now, in the interests of transparency and accountability, disclose full details of his contractual relationship with Huawei. »
Mr Xenophon was elected to the Senate in 2007 but resigned his seat in 2017 to mount an ultimately unsuccessful bid to run for South Australia’s parliament, before returning to legal practice.
His exit from federal politics allowed Senator Patrick – a longtime adviser to Mr. Xenophon and a former submariner – to fill the vacancy in the upper house of the federal parliament.
Mr. Xenophon today castigated the remarks of his ally turned adversary.
“It is unbecoming of Rex Patrick to refer to the preparation for the Holocaust in a miserable attempt to dredge up votes,” Mr Xenophon told the ABC.
Mr Xenophon said his involvement with Huawei – which he was previously asked about in 2019 – was strictly limited to legal advice.
“The law firm Xenophon Davis acted for Huawei Australia. They were attacked without mercy and we defended their legal rights, as lawyers do,” he said.
“We weren’t lobbyists for them, we didn’t engage with Canberra at all.
” Is [Senator] Patrick suggesting that if you are a Chinese company or person you are not entitled to a legal defense? Does he want Australia?
“How dare he question my loyalty as an Australian – it’s a disgrace to him. »
Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie – who was elected to Federal Parliament for the Nick Xenophon team, which was later renamed Center Alliance – was asked this morning about Senator Patrick’s comments.
She told ABC Radio Adelaide that she had not heard the speech.
“I think a lot of people were surprised when Nick worked for Huawei,” she said.
Ms Sharkie said Senator Patrick had “done a very good job” in the Senate, but Mr Xenophon “has the right to raise his hand” to contest the seat.
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