Cabinet hopeful Mark Coure’s close links to Chinese businessman with ties to United Front revealed

State MP Mark Coure used the business of a Chinese businessman with ties to Beijing’s foreign influence arm to print a taxpayer-funded flyer.

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Liberal MP Mark Coure used the company of a businessman linked to the Chinese Communist Party to print taxpayer-funded electorate mat­erial, before the party received a donation of almost $1000 from the man less than a year later.

The newsletter is just one example of the Oatley MP’s ­association with Yang Dongdong, a man who has described himself as part of the United Front system.

The United Front is a Chinese Communist Party arm once labelled a “magic weapon” by President Xi Jinping, aimed at advancing the party’s interests overseas.

NSW Liberal member for Oatley Mark Coure and Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Mr Coure was a VIP guest at a Chinese community Christmas function last year attended by Mr Yang.

That’s despite former prime minister Tony Abbott seeking to distance himself from a similar event he atten­d­­ed almost a year earlier.

The Assistant Speaker’s links with Mr Yang have led one Chinese-influence expert to label Mr Coure as a “slow learner” over his associations with people linked to Beijing.

Mr Coure’s October 2016 newsletter, paid for by the taxpayer, states it was printed by Australian Business Links Pty Ltd. ASIC records show Mr Yang is that company’s director. The newsletter states it was printed at Mr Yang’s Five Dock home.

The member for Oatley would not say how much ­taxpayer money had been spent on printing the flyer.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott had tried to distance himself from a similar event. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

In August 2017, less than a year later, Mr Yang donated $960 to the Liberal Party at a fundraiser for Mr Coure.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the donation was among more than $7000 Mr Yang donated to the NSW Liberal Party since 2013, according to donations disclosures. Australian Business Links Pty Ltd donated another $2000 to the party in 2014.

A NSW Liberal spokesman said “all donations to the NSW Liberal Party are disclosed’’.

The Oatley MP has been linked to Chinese businessman Mr Yang since 2011, when Mr Coure thanked him in his inaugural speech.

Mr Coure was at two events attended by Mr Yang in 2019. Those events included a speaking role at the 2019 Chinese Entrepreneurs Christmas Gala Dinner in December and a 2019 Chinese New Year event.

Liberal MP Mark Coure was a guest speaker at the 2019 Chinese Entrepreneurs Christmas Gala Dinner. Picture: Supplied

Mr Coure said he attended the Christmas event with other politicians — including Parramatta MP Geoff Lee — because several “small business owners from my elec­torate were in attendance”.

It came months after he was a guest at the New Year function attended by Mr Yang and figures linked to the United Front. Mr Abbott, who was also at the 2019 Chinese New Year event, told then-Fairfax papers he would not have attended the January function if he knew United Front groups were there.

Mr Coure at the dinner, front row, seventh from left. Picture: Supplied

Mr Coure was at two events attended by Mr Yang in 2019. Those events included a speaking role at the 2019 Chinese Entrepreneurs Christmas Gala Dinner in December.

Mr Coure said he attended the event with other politicians including Acting Multiculturalism Minister Geoff Lee because “a number of small business owners from my electorate were in attendance”.

“I attend many community events as part of my job as the Member for Oatley,” he said.

“As you know my electorate is quite diverse.“

Originally published as Cabinet hopeful Mark Coure’s close links to Chinese businessman with ties to United Front revealed