Senator Sam Dastyari announces his resignation from the federal opposition Labor frontbench. Picture: John Fotiadis

THERE is a probability Sam Dastyari will be back, but the certainty the national debate he inadvertently started over foreign political funny money will not go away.

If there was outrage over a single senator caging $1600 from an influence-seeking Chinese businessman, what should be the magnitude of responses to massive Chinese donations to Labor and Coalition parties?

That money isn’t tumbling in because China admires the cut of our democracy.

Something in return is expected.

Just as Senator Dastyari broke no laws or integrity rules with his Beijing business pals, political parties have legally been taking Chinese donations.

The Dastyari case has established the electorate would like to know more about who is offering money and who is accepting it - on all political sides. There is a stink about the transactions.

But meanwhile, the focus is on the senator who can now add that much-unwanted title “disgraced” to his CV.

* SAM DASTYARI QUITS

* Labor powerbroker Sam Dastyari’s fall from grace

Sam Dastyari made a personal confession so frank it was almost endearing: “I have never been afraid of the spotlight.”

But for the past couple of weeks he has been trying to avoid political centre-stage, a sure sign Senator Everywhere knew he was in trouble.

Instead of confronting this, he followed the well-beaten path of others caught in a malodorous episode who believed that just this once they would show how to escape consequences.

The footprints of Bronwyn Bishop and Stuart Roberts were ahead of him, leading to the inevitable humiliation.

Senator Dastyari yesterday came back into the spotlight for a press conference he should have held a week ago.

The delayed appearance did not make things better for him.

He could not explain why he hit up a Chinese businessman for $1670 in travel costs.

He could not explain why Sydney-based Chinese media quoted him clashing with Labor policy by supporting Beijing’s stance on the South China Sea.

After yesterday’s encounter with reporters Senator Dastyari spoke to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. He offered his resignation as the shadow minister for consumer affairs, but there is little doubt it was offered for reasons jointly crafted during those discussions.

“Sam made a mistake and now he’s paying a heavy price,” Mr Shorten said Wednesday night in a statement.

“It’s the measure of the man that he can stand up, admit he got it wrong and accept the consequences.

“Sam is a young bloke with a bright future ahead of him. He has a lot more to offer Labor and Australia.”

The simple cause for Senator Dastyari slumping to the backbench was that a Government which almost lost the last election - and was having troubles with policies and dissent - was not the centre of attention. An Opposition senator was.

Bill Shorten had allowed that to continue for what some colleagues would consider too long.

Senator Dastyari was inexperienced when NSW Labor secretary between 2010-13, and was rapidly rushed into the frontbench at age 33.

It was a lot for a young man who was keen to set his own course.

His actions displayed a lack of experience and a readiness to wheel and deal which led to his mistakes.

He officially declared the money - as required - 11 months ago, but there was no alarm until Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi resurrected the travel payment to use as a political birch against Labor.

The failure of judgment was highlighted for political gain.

And the beauty of the Bernardi tactic was it didn’t take much to sign up voters to his outrage.

Politicians getting backhanders from businessmen - no matter how legal - doesn’t have to be explained to voters, just revealed.

An older Sam Dastyari would have known that.