Huawei Australia loses high-profile director, as former Victorian premier John Brumby resigns

One of Huawei’s high-profile Australian advocates resigned, just days after the United States pressed criminal charges against the company.

THE Australian arm of controversial Chinese tech giant Huawei has lost one of its biggest advocates after former Victorian premier John Brumby resigned today, just days after the United States pressed criminal charges against the company.

Huawei, which is Australia’s largest supplier of wireless technology, now faces charges of fraud, industrial espionage, and breaking economic sanctions against Iran.

The company may also be slapped with a ban on its involvement in 5G mobile networks in Europe, similar to bans already in place in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the US and UK.

But Mr Brumby said his resignation as director was not a reaction to the company’s new setbacks.

“The timing of my retirement from the Board is completely unrelated to any recent commentary regarding China and Huawei,” he said.

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Former Victorian premier John Brumby. Picture: Chris Eastman

A man talks on his phone while he walking past a Huawei store in Beijing. Picture: AFP

”More than a year ago, I advised the board and Huawei (headquarters) of my intention to retire to make time for new commitments I was taking on in early 2019.”

Mr Brumby said he remained a “strong supporter of closer ties between Australia and China”.

Huawei Australia chairman John Lord said Mr Brumby had been “instrumental” in setting up the company’s management in Australia, and stayed with the company “longer than he first intended”.

Criminal charges against Huawei by the US Justice Department include claims the company stole trade secrets and testing materials from a US phone carrier, offered bonuses to employees who stole confidential information from US rivals, and broke US economic sanctions to do business with Iran.

The company’s chief financial officer, Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, is also being held in Canada while fighting extradition to the US.