ASIO investigating claims Chinese spy tried to infiltrate parliament
A Chinese businessman who was allegedly involved in a plot to infiltrate the Australian parliament, received a permanent residency visa through a Melbourne company.
National
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A Chinese businessman accused of spying received a permanent residency visa through a Melbourne paintbrush company.
Chung Sheng Chen’s 2010 visa application was rejected because the company, Australian Brushware Corporation “had not demonstrated that it had a need for the nominated employee within its business in Australia”. He is the subject of intensive interest in Canberra over allegations that he was involved in a plot to infiltrate the Australian parliament.
The Nine Network reported that the plot involved using former Liberal Party member and car salesman, Bo “Nick’’ Zhao, who was found dead in a Melbourne motel room this year.
Mr Chen, who is believed to no longer be in Australia, has denied to Nine that he was an agent of the Chinese Government.
Court documents show that in 2013, the decision to reject Mr Chen’s visa application was appealed to the Migration Review Tribunal, on the basis the $80 million group of companies including Australian Brushware Corporation had grown significantly and that Mr Chen, who was on a 457 foreign worker visa at the time, was vital to the company’s expansion.
Mr Chen was said to have previously worked at a Guandong car factory in southern China, and in sales and marketing at an Australian phone shop.
This meant he had “experience in manufacturing from his employment in China and also Australia”, according to his application.
There appears to have been no concerns raised by immigration authorities, and at the appeal a permanent residence visa was granted.
The head of ASIO, Mike Burgess, issued a rare public statement yesterday confirming the domestic spy agency was aware of an alleged Chinese plot to infiltrate parliament and had been “actively investigating”.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting Mr Chen was an agent of the Chinese Government, only that the allegations are being investigated.
The federal parliament has resumed for the final sitting fortnight of the year amid a web of intrigue over Chinese spying claims.
A second Chinese national, Wang Liqiang, is seeking asylum in Australia, saying he was a spy for Chinese military intelligence who had defected.
Mr Wang went to ASIO a year ago with his claims.
Labor has requested a briefing from ASIO about Mr Wang, Mr Chen and Mr Zhou, whose death in a Mt Waverley motel in March is being investigated by the coroner. There is no suggestion Mr Chen had any knowledge or involvement in his death.
According to Nine, Mr Zhao had told associates Mr Chen wanted him to run for an eastern suburbs seat in the federal parliament.
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Labor figures, including Senator Kimberley Kitching, used the Chinese spy intrigue to up the pressure on the Liberal MP for Chisholm, Gladys Lui, who did not declare her membership of Chinese Communist Party-aligned organisations.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was “not naive to the threats that it faces more broadly.”
“I find the allegations deeply disturbing and troubling and I refer you to the Director General’s (of ASIO) statement which said that these matters were already under investigation and those investigations are continuing,’’ he said.
Originally published as ASIO investigating claims Chinese spy tried to infiltrate parliament