Australian Electoral Commission refers Monique Ryan volunteers video to integrity taskforce

Australia’s electoral watchdog has referred a video of Monique Ryan’s campaign volunteers to the integrity taskforce, after allegations of foreign interference.

Australia’s electoral watchdog has referred a video of Monique Ryan’s campaign volunteers to the integrity taskforce, after footage showed the volunteers claiming they had been directed to vote for the Teal MP by an organisation with links to the Chinese Communist Party.

The Australian Electoral Commission said the video would come under the microscope of its Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce.

In a statement, the commission states it will review this matter “in the same way that we review all matters that are raised with us”.

“It is important to note that Australia has a secret ballot. Nobody knows how another individual votes. Your vote is your choice.”

The TikTok video in question shows a man called Stephen and a woman called Jessica wearing Monique Ryan t-shirts and holding her flyers.

The interviewer asks them about their support for Dr Ryan, with the woman saying they were told to by Hubei Association president Ji Jianmin.

The man says her policies were also in line with that of the Chinese community.

A screenshot from the video.

A screenshot from the video.

The Hubei Association has been accused of being a “United Front-linked business group” and part of the Chinese Communist Party’s overseas influence operation.

On Tuesday, Dr Ryan welcomed an investigation and said she was grateful for the support Chinese Australians had given her.

“I’ve tried to work hard for the Chinese Australian community in Kooyong,” Dr Ryan told Sky TV on Tuesday morning.

“I’m not sure about the interpretation of that video whether it’s accurate, but you know, certainly no one’s been compelled to volunteer for me, but I’m grateful for those people who’ve come out to volunteer on my campaign.”

Dr Ryan said she had never met with [Hubei Association president] Ji saying “there’s nothing to it”.

“In the interest of full transparency I’ve contacted the AEC and the Department of Parliamentary Services agency and given them the details …. about my relationship with those volunteers and (man),” she said on Sky News.

Liberal MP James Paterson. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

Teal MP Monique Ryan. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

On Monday, opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said allegations that people associated with the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department were directing people to work on the campaign of the Member for Kooyong were “very serious”.

“If confirmed, this would constitute an act of foreign interference in our democracy. Australian elections must be decided by Australians only,” Senator Paterson said.

“The Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce, led by the AEC and incorporating ASIO and the Australian Federal Police, must urgently investigate.

“Monique Ryan must be transparent about her knowledge of and involvement in this alleged scheme.”

A screenshot from the video.

Pictures: Supplied

On Monday night, a spokesperson for Dr Ryan confirmed the people featured in the video “recently volunteered” for her campaign but were not personally known to her.

The spokesperson said Dr Ryan was not aware of the video until she received a media enquiry about it.

“She is aware that they have handed out flyers at a pre-poll location in Kew but has no knowledge of any further involvement in her campaign,” the spokesperson said.

“On April 21st, Monique attended a community dinner hosted by the Hubei Chamber of Commerce, which Mr Ji Jianmin also attended.

“Following the event, some attendees, including Stephen — one of the people in the video — signed up to volunteer. Monique has had no interaction with Stephen beyond being present at that dinner.

“Monique cannot confirm whether Jessica attended the dinner, and, to her knowledge, she has not met her.”

The spokesperson said Mr Ji had attended a small number of public campaign events and community forums, where he had appeared in group photos.

“Monique has not met with Mr Ji privately, he has never lobbied her on any policy matters, and she has no ongoing relationship with him,” the spokesperson said.

“Any contact between Monique and Mr Ji has been incidental and limited to public events attended by large numbers of people, including the Hubei Chamber of Commerce dinner on April 21st.”