ICAC: Chinese billionaire denies donating $100k to ALP in Aldi bag
Legal fee invoices of a crucial meeting between an ALP lawyer and the party’s then boss Kaila Murnain have been shown to the ICAC today, with accusations her evidence about the meeting was a “pack of lies”.
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Legal fee invoices of a crucial meeting between an ALP lawyer and the party’s then boss Kaila Murnain have been shown to the ICAC today, with accusations her evidence about the meeting was a “pack of lies”.
Ms Murnain is being grilled by the corruption watchdog over a $100,000 ALP cash donation and allegations phoney donors were used to bypass electoral laws.
She has said she didn’t report finding out about the possible illegal donation because long-standing ALP lawyer Ian Robertson allegedly told her to keep quiet, and “I won’t be billing you for this either”.
The lawyer representing Mr Robertson, Tony McInerney grilled Ms Murnain about a legal invoice sent to ALP headquarters days after the 16 September 2016 meeting, which showed his firm Holding Redlich charging $20,555 for that month’s services, including a note for the day in question stating: “Telephone discussions and meeting with Ms K Murnain concerning political donation issues.”
ICAC heard the ALP was also dealing with another unrelated donation scandal involving a western Sydney MP on the same day.
“You came unstuck didn’t you with your version of events once you’ve added in that Mr Robertson would not be billing you for the meeting, correct?” Mr McInerney asked.
“No I did not,” Ms Murnain replied.
“Ms Murnain your evidence to this commission has been a pack of lies, hasn’t it?” he asked.
“No.”
ICAC commissioner Peter Hall today invited exiled Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo to “submit to questioning” like any other witness by the corruption body following overnight denials by the billionaire of being involved in the mystery $100,000 cash donation.
Mr Hall opened the public hearing today by noting the overnight publication of “factual assertions” from Mr Huang.
“If it is his wish that any such statement form part of the evidentiary materials before the commission, in this public inquiry there would need to be compliance by him with the commission’s processes that apply to any witness,” Mr Hall said.
“Which include a preparedness by Mr Huang Xiangmo to submit to any questioning by counsel assisting upon the matters raised by him in his published statement as part of the hearing processes of this commission.”
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He then said to Mr Huang’s lawyer Timothy Unsworth that “the statement was entirely a matter for you to seek instructions if and when you wish”.
The Chinese billionaire at the heart of the $100,000 Aldi plastic bag ALP cash donation scandal has denied the money came from him - and says he doesn’t even shop at the discount supermarket chain.
The overnight statement from the exiled property developer comes as corruption watchdog ICAC sits for a tenth day of public hearings.
Mr Huang Xiangmo, now living in Hong Kong after being banned from Australia, declared in a statement last night he had “nothing to do” with the mystery donation.
ICAC is investigating a $100,000 cash donation made in a plastic Aldi bag to the NSW ALP headquarters after the Chinese fundraiser in March 2015.
Mr Huang dined with former ALP bosses Bill Shorten and Luke Foley at the head table on the night of the Chinese dinner.
But Mr Huang - who has refused to give evidence to the inquiry via video-link - says he never used Aldi bags.
The Australian financial journalist who interviewed the wealthy businessman reported Thursday night it was understood that “Mr Huang never visited an Aldi supermarket when he was living in Australia, let alone used an Aldi bag”.
Mr Huang’s statement also said he was shocked to hear an ICAC witness had killed himself.
“I do not know any of the alleged donors of the sum or any of the ‘straw donors’ as referred to in recent reports, nor have I ever had any contact with them,” he said.
“I have nothing to do with the alleged $100,000 donation that has been widely mentioned in the inquiry.”
ASIO revoked Mr Huang’s visa late last year on the grounds of his “amenability” to conducting acts of foreign interference.
Documents provided to him by ASIO when his visa was cancelled also cited his membership of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China and its sister group, the Oceanic Alliance Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.
Both have been named as United Front groups - part of Beijing’s propaganda arm.
Dumped ALP boss Kaila Murnain will continue being cross-examined at ICAC today, while another witness, Chinatown souvenir shop owner To Yip, is also scheduled to take the stand.