MP Rob Molhoek says he had ‘virtually no contact’ with Chinese officials during 14 trips
Senior State Government Minister Kate Jones has been blasted as having ‘the memory of a goldfish’ after she today criticised an LNP MP’s dealings with a man with links to China’s ruling Communist Party.
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The LNP has accused Innovation Minister Kate Jones of hypocrisy as she met and posed with the same official who posed for photographs and hosted Southport MP Rob Molhoek in China.
The Courier-Mail last night revealed Mr Molhoek had travelled to China 14 times since he was elected in 2012 and was hosted by Chinese government officials on some of those trips.
The paper also revealed Mr Molhoek had posed for photos with one of those officials, Jincai Yang, in Brisbane last year while launching the Queensland chapter of Mr Yang’s drone federation.
Mr Yang also lists on his bio that or the Chinese Government as a “special expert” of the Ministry of Public Security, the law and order arm of the Communist regime.
Ms Jones took aim at Mr Molhoek’s travel this morning, following the revelations.
But the LNP has hit back.
Deputy LNP Leader Tim Mander said Mr Yang was a guest speaker at last year’s World of Drones congress in Brisbane, sponsored by the Palaszczuk Government.
He signed an MOU with Ms Jones and Minister Cameron Dick while he was here.
“This is a massive own goal by Labor’s Kate Jones, who has proven she has the memory of a goldfish,” Mr Mander said, pointing to video footage of the meeting.
“The Palaszczuk Labor government used taxpayer money to give this association a platform and two senior Labor Ministers signed an MOU.”
Ms Jones, however, dismissed the hypocrisy charge.
“That’s been published for all to see,” she said of the video which she published on her Facebook last year.
Ms Jones said what was not clear was why Mr Molhoek travelled to China so often and why he accepted hospitality and accommodation from government officials.
EARLIER: A SENIOR Queensland MP has defended 14 trips to China including some involving accommodation and hospitality provided by Chinese government officials.
And the LNP politician insists he didn’t know he was dealing with a man with links to the Chinese Government when he helped him launch the Australian chapter of his drone association last year.
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As tensions continue to rise over China’s attempts to influence Australia’s political arena, The Courier-Mail can reveal Opposition whip Rob Molhoek’s links with the country through his frequent travels since he was elected in 2012.
Mr Molhoek was photographed alongside World UAV Federation chair Jincai Yang when he launched the Queensland chapter of the federation last year.
Mr Yang is a security expert who lists on his bio his work for the Chinese Government as a “special expert” of the Ministry of Public Security, the law and order arm of the Communist regime.
Mr Yang also founded the Shenzhen UAV Industry Association which paid for Mr Molhoek’s accommodation during a trip to China made by the MP, declared on his Register of Interest.
The WUAVF also promotes major Chinese drone company DJI which was banned by the US military in 2017 over alleged spy fears.
It was temporarily suspended here in light of the US ban before being cleared to secure contracts with CASA and the Department of Defence.
Mr Molhoek has also previously declared accommodation and hospitality provided by other Chinese officials including a stay at the Fengkai County Government Hotel in 2014 as a guest of Zhang Hao, the Secretary of the Fengkai County.
When questioned about his China links by The Courier-Mail, the Southport MP insisted he had “virtually no contact” with Chinese officials.
He said was not involved with the drone association and only launched their Queensland chapter because he was invited to.
He also defended his frequent travel to China insisting it was all for personal reasons.
“My former fiance lived in China,” Mr Molhoek said.
“I travelled to China on my annual leave to visit her at my own expense. I have only been to China three times in the last two years and haven’t been to China since January 2019.
“I received a briefing from Shenzhen UAV Industry Association in China which has been fully disclosed.”
Former defence and intelligence official Dr Ross Babbage said politicians needed to exercise caution in their dealing with China, especially when it came to being courted by high-ranking officials and those linked with technology.
“It has the potential to be very disturbing,” Dr Babbage told The Courier-Mail.
“This is not like a company or an agency from a democratic country. China is completely different.
“The way they are operating is completely different to the modes and norms that Australians would normally understand.
“Especially one where there’s technology, including advanced technology. The security services of China have very strong interest with nearly all of the Chinese-based companies that are exporting.
“As a consequence, for good reason, most people who know what they are doing in Australia and, for that matter, other allied countries are exceptionally careful about purchasing or being involved with any of that technology at all.”
Senior Labor Minister Kate Jones said she believed Mr Molhoek had serious questions to answer about the travel.
“I am Queensland’s Innovation Minister. I have never been offered a free trip to China to talk about drones,” she said,
“I have travelled to China on behalf of Queensland.
“There are very strict rules and protocols about behaviour to protect Australia’s interests.
“Today I am calling in Deb Frecklington to find out from her Opposition Whip why he is accepting sponsored travel from Chinese companies that have strong links to the Communist party.”
Originally published as MP Rob Molhoek says he had ‘virtually no contact’ with Chinese officials during 14 trips
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