Advertisement

Bill Shorten visited Chinese donor: report

Opposition leader Bill Shorten may change his parliamentary seat.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten may change his parliamentary seat. Photo: AAP

Labor leader Bill Shorten visited Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo at his Sydney mansion, reportedly months after a warning from ASIO.

Fairfax Media reports Mr Shorten and his family visited Mr Huang’s home reportedly to solicit funds for the Labor Party’s 2016 campaign ads.

The revelation come with Senator Sam Dastyari embroiled in a scandal involving Mr Huang and Chinese influence on local politicians.

Mr Shorten has not denied the visit but pointed out to Fairfax that senior government figures from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and former PM Tony Abbott have socialised with Mr Huang.

Mr Shorten’s office stressed his home visit did not compromise Australia’s national security and that Labor would “no longer accept donations from Mr Huang.”

“It is unbelievable that Mr Turnbull still refuses to do the same.”

Mr Huang is at the centre of a political storm involving Labor senator Sam Dastyari, who has been called to resign after he reportedly informed the billionaire benefactor his phone might be tapped by intelligence agencies.

After those allegations emerged, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull questioned Senator Dastyari’s allegiance to Australia.

“Whose side is he on? Is he on the side of the agencies that keep us safe, or is he on the side of a foreign government?” Mr Turnbull said last week.

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph says Mr Huang’s former adviser, Tim Xu, has joined the Liberal campaign for John Alexander in the Bennelong by-election.

Topics: Bill Shorten
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.