Ex-premier Bob Carr headlines Dragon Boat Festival fundraiser to woo Chinese voters for the ALP

NSW Labor is rolling out ex-premier Bob Carr at a $990-a-table “Dragon Boat Festival” fundraiser to woo Chinese voters. Meanwhile, Mr Carr has been forced to deny using his political connections to further Beijing’s interests in Australia.

LABOR is exploiting former premier Bob Carr’s close links with Beijing to pitch for money and votes from Chinese-Australians.

Mr Carr is the star speaker alongside Opposition Leader Luke Foley at a fundraising dinner in the must-win seat of Oatley, which has one of the state’s highest Chinese voting populations.

Advertisements for the $990-per-table June 22 dinner to celebrate the Chinese Dragon Boat festival feature Chinese script and photos of Mr Carr, Mr Foley and local candidate Lucy Mannering.

Former NSW premier Bob Carr is under increasing pressure over his links to China. Picture: James Croucher

It can also be revealed Mr Foley turned to Mr Carr — who has been critical of Australia’s foreign policy stance towards the Communist regime — for advice on his parliamentary trip to China last year.

Mr Carr is under increasing pressure over his links to China after being accused last week of driving questions for a Senate committee, via his former colleague Kristina Keneally, over Chinese espionage operations in Australia. Mr Carr denies drafting the questions but said they were valid.

Asked last night if he was still comfortable to appear with Mr Carr at a fundraiser directly targeting the Chinese community, Mr Foley replied “yes”.

The fundraising advertisement. Picture: Supplied

Oatley is an electorate with a Chinese population of more than 15 per cent, and one Labor will fight fiercely to win at the next election.

The Chinese vote is already at risk because of the party’s intention to replace the only upper house Chinese-Australian MP, Ernest Wong.

Mr Carr is the director of the Australia-China relations institute, which was established by Huang Xiangmo — a Chinese Communist Party-linked political donor.

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Huang Xiangmo has been accused of seeking to further the interests of the Chinese Communist Party in Australia and no longer funds Mr Carr’s think tank.

Xiangmo, who has been accused of seeking to further the interests of the Chinese Communist Party in Australia, no longer funds Mr Carr’s think tank.

Mr Carr told The Daily Telegraph: “Australian citizens of Chinese background are entitled to participate in Australian politics. If they invite me to address them I’m proud and humbled to accept.”

Australian Strategic Policy Institute Peter Jennings warned all politicians must be cautious in the current climate to show due diligence on Chinese fundraising.

“This is a moment when all politicians should be careful with taking money from those with any association with the Chinese united front,” Mr Jennings said.

“It’s important there is due diligence around Chinese community organisations and Chinese business figures so politicians can be confident the groups don’t have links with the ­Chinese Communist Party United Front work department.”

Labor, particularly the NSW Right faction, has becoming increasingly conflicted over its dealings with China, culminating in the resignation of ALP senator Sam Dastyari.

But one Labor source said last night it was “important to distinguish legitimate fundraising from local Chinese-Australian communities and money or political activity linked to Beijing’s United Front work department”.

Mr Foley travelled on a five-day mission to China last June, paid for by the Leader of the Opposition’s Office budget.

His spokeswoman said: “Mr Foley was happy to seek advice from Mr Carr, a former Australian Foreign Minister, and others, on which cities and regions were appropriate to visit.” But Mr Foley did not discuss with Mr Carr any meetings.