Pierre Yang Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Pierre Yang
Honorific-Suffix:MLC
Office:Government Whip in the Legislative Council
Term Start:16 May 2018
Premier:Mark McGowan
1Namedata:Sue Ellery
1Blankname:Leader
Predecessor:Martin Pritchard
Office1:Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
Term Start1:22 May 2021
Predecessor1:Alannah MacTiernan
Constituency1:North Metropolitan Region
Term Start2:22 May 2017
Term End2:21 May 2021
Predecessor2:Sheila Mills
Successor2:Klara Andric
Constituency2:South Metropolitan Region
Office3:Member of the Gosnells City Council
Term Start3:19 October 2013
Term End3:22 May 2017
Birth Name:Yang Shuai Yang (杨帅)
Birth Date:1983 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Nationality:Chinese Australian
Party:Labor
Spouse:Hazel Yang
Children:2
Allegiance: Australia
Branch: Australian Army Reserve
Serviceyears:2006–2016
Rank: Captain

Pierre Shuai Yang (Chinese: s=杨帅|t=楊帥|p=Yáng Shuài; born on 27 January 1983) is a Chinese Australian lawyer and politician. He was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council at the 2017 state election, as a Labor member in South Metropolitan Region. His term began on 22 May 2017.

Yang moved to Australia when he was 15-years-old (1998), as an overseas student. Around three years later, in September 2001, Yang joined the Labor Party, stating (of the party) in his inaugural speech in the Legislative Council: “The Labor Party believes in a fair and compassionate society where a fair day’s work will return a fair day’s pay and the most vulnerable of our community are supported and protected. The Labor Party believes in giving voice to the voiceless and creating jobs for the jobless, and the Labor Party believes in giving people a fair go.”[1]

Yang was a member of Gosnells City Council before entering state politics.[2] He joined the Australian Army Reserve in 2006, and at the rank of captain, was assigned as a liaison officer and translator on board the Chinese salvage/rescue vessel Dong Hai Jiu 101 during the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.[3]

On 16 May 2018, Yang was elected by the Labor Caucus to the position of Government Whip in the Legislative Council, following the resignation of the position by Martin Pritchard.[4]

In December 2022, he became a parliamentary secretary to Simone McGurk, the minister for training, water, and youth.[5] [6]

Foreign agent allegations

In 2018, it was reported that Yang had not declared to parliament his membership of the Northeast China Federation and the Association of Great China, which are allegedly affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party through its United Front Work Department. He subsequently stated that he had resigned from the two organisations.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Inaugural Speech – Hon. Pierre Yang, MLC . 25 May 2017 . .
  2. News: Matt Keogh to contest Burt for Labor after Pierre Yang withdraws. PerthNow. 12 November 2015. Spagnolo. Joe. 25 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170325203918/http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/matt-keogh-to-contest-burt-for-labor-after-pierre-yang-withdraws-nomination/news-story/17f78ed8b8779bcbdb6554ade5e0ca1c. 25 March 2017. live.
  3. News: Blom. Amy. Yang searches for MH370. 13 June 2017. Your Local Examiner. 11 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160811114610/http://www.yourlocalexaminer.com.au/yang-searches-for-mh370/. 11 August 2016. live.
  4. Web site: Government Whip – Statement . 16 May 2018 . .
  5. Web site: Premier unveils new team with a focus on renewal and experience . Media Statements . 14 December 2022 . 14 December 2022 . 19 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219114522/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2022/12/Premier-unveils-new-team-with-a-focus-on-renewal-and-experience.aspx . dead .
  6. Web site: Hastie . Hamish . McGowan reveals portfolio appointments after cabinet reshuffle . WAtoday . 14 December 2022 . 14 December 2022.
  7. Web site: WA MP declares loyalty to Australia amid China spying claims. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402014705/https://www.9news.com.au/national/pierre-yang-wa-mp-declares-loyalty-to-australia-amid-china-spying-claims/23d6d9a1-06b0-4041-b473-afe666608827. 2 April 2019. 15 June 2019. www.9news.com.au. 6 December 2018 .
  8. News: Hamilton. Clive. Clive Hamilton. 9 May 2019. How Beijing is Shaping Politics in Western Australia. https://web.archive.org/web/20190509174716/https://jamestown.org/program/how-beijing-is-shaping-politics-in-western-australia/. 9 May 2019. 15 June 2019. Jamestown Foundation. en-US.
  9. Web site: Borrello. Eliza. 4 December 2018. WA Labor MP resigns membership of Chinese organisations. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190929115147/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-04/wa-premier-defends-mp-over-alleged-china-communist-party-links/10583028. 29 September 2019. 17 November 2019. ABC News. en-AU.
  10. Web site: Borrello. Eliza. Laschon. Eliza. 5 December 2018. 'I was naive': Labor MP Pierre Yang sorry for not disclosing China memberships. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190929115118/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-05/pierre-yang-apologises-for-not-disclosing-china-memberships/10587490. 29 September 2019. 17 November 2019. ABC News. en-AU.