Former crossbench senator Nick Xenophon says Huawei has “behaved impeccably”, but has still been the “subject of malicious slurs by seemingly ideological think tanks”.

Mr Xenophon said he’s acting in the “national interest” by taking up a consulting role with Huawei.

The former crossbench senator told Sky News the company has been accused of “all sorts of things that are simply not backed by the evidence” and it has “done the right thing” in terms of working hard to deliver the best tech solutions.

“Their reputation ought to be defended because they haven’t been treated fairly,” Mr Xenophon said on Monday.