Pierre Yang

The Honourable
Pierre Yang
MLC
The Honourable Pierre Yang MLC
Government Whip in the Legislative Council
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 16 May 2018
Premier	Mark McGowan
Leader	Sue Ellery
Preceded by	Martin Pritchard
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 22 May 2021
Preceded by	Alannah MacTiernan
Constituency	North Metropolitan Region
	In office; 22 May 2017 – 21 May 2021
Preceded by	Sheila Mills
Succeeded by	Klara Andric
Constituency	South Metropolitan Region
Member of the Gosnells City Council
	In office; 19 October 2013 – 22 May 2017
Personal details
Born	Yang Shuai Yang (杨帅); 27 January 1983 (age 41); Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Nationality	Chinese Australian
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Hazel Yang
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Western Australia (LLB, BA)
Occupation	Lawyer; Politician;
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army Reserve
Years of service	2006–2016
Rank	Captain

Pierre Shuai Yang (simplified Chinese: 杨帅; traditional Chinese: 楊帥; pinyin: 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]

References

^ "Inaugural Speech – Hon. Pierre Yang, MLC" (PDF). Western Australian Legislative Council. 25 May 2017.
^ Spagnolo, Joe (12 November 2015). "Matt Keogh to contest Burt for Labor after Pierre Yang withdraws". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
^ Blom, Amy (11 August 2016). "Yang searches for MH370". Your Local Examiner. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
^ "Government Whip – Statement" (PDF). Western Australian Legislative Assembly. 16 May 2018.
^ "Premier unveils new team with a focus on renewal and experience". Media Statements. 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^ Hastie, Hamish (14 December 2022). "McGowan reveals portfolio appointments after cabinet reshuffle". WAtoday. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^ "WA MP declares loyalty to Australia amid China spying claims". www.9news.com.au. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
^ Hamilton, Clive (9 May 2019). "How Beijing is Shaping Politics in Western Australia". Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
^ Borrello, Eliza (4 December 2018). "WA Labor MP resigns membership of Chinese organisations". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
^ Borrello, Eliza; Laschon, Eliza (5 December 2018). "'I was naive': Labor MP Pierre Yang sorry for not disclosing China memberships". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.

[1] "Inaugural Speech – Hon. Pierre Yang, MLC" (PDF). Western Australian Legislative Council. 25 May 2017.

[2] Spagnolo, Joe (12 November 2015). "Matt Keogh to contest Burt for Labor after Pierre Yang withdraws". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.

[mh370-3] Blom, Amy (11 August 2016). "Yang searches for MH370". Your Local Examiner. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2017.

[4] "Government Whip – Statement" (PDF). Western Australian Legislative Assembly. 16 May 2018.

[5] "Premier unveils new team with a focus on renewal and experience". Media Statements. 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.

[6] Hastie, Hamish (14 December 2022). "McGowan reveals portfolio appointments after cabinet reshuffle". WAtoday. Retrieved 14 December 2022.

[7] "WA MP declares loyalty to Australia amid China spying claims". www.9news.com.au. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

[8] Hamilton, Clive (9 May 2019). "How Beijing is Shaping Politics in Western Australia". Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

[9] Borrello, Eliza (4 December 2018). "WA Labor MP resigns membership of Chinese organisations". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.

[10] Borrello, Eliza; Laschon, Eliza (5 December 2018). "'I was naive': Labor MP Pierre Yang sorry for not disclosing China memberships". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.

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