Alan Tudge tells court he believed hospital donation might foster goodwill in pandemic

Ex-minister Alan Tudge has told a court he hoped a $37k hospital donation from Sunny Duong — who’s facing trial on a foreign interference charge — would attract “positive media coverage”.

Former federal minister Alan Tudge leaves the Victorian County Court. Picture: David Crosling

Ex-federal minister Alan Tudge believed a $37k hospital donation from Sunny Duong — accused of having Chinese Communist Party ties — was an “opportunity” to counter negativity towards Chinese people during the pandemic.

The former acting Immigration Minister told a County Court trial he was “concerned” about anxiety and “dangerous” sentiments towards the Australian-Chinese community when he took a meeting with businessman Di Sanh “Sunny” Duong in May 2020.

The president of the Oceania Federation of Chinese Organisations and ex-Liberal candidate had emailed the minister seeking to make a “not insignificant donation” to fight Covid-19, with Mr Tudge wanting to attract “positive media coverage”.

At the time, he said there were concerning reports of poor treatment towards the Chinese community because of the virus.

The minister suggested the donation be made to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where a giant novelty cheque was presented in front of a media pack invited by Mr Tudge’s office in June 2020.

Alan Tudge has denied knowing of any links between Sunny Duong and the CCP to China’s Ministry of State Security or the United Front Work Department. Picture: David Crosling

“I was certainly hoping to get TV coverage,” Mr Tudge told the court on Monday, where Mr Duong faces a single charge of preparing an act of foreign interference over the $37,450 donation.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge, where he was accused of using the cash offering to cultivate a relationship with Mr Tudge and influence him towards Chinese Communist Party (CCP) positions.

The jury was told that Mr Tudge’s staffer added Mr Duong’s name to a “high donor list”, along with the word, “target”.

Mr Tudge, now a consultant since his resignation from public office in February this year, said that “fundraising is an important part of being a Member of Parliament”.

Noting that Mr Duong had identified himself as a long-term Liberal party member, Mr Tudge said he could have had the “capacity to come to a fundraiser down the track”.

Mr Duong attended the hospital press event with his friend Yin Choi Lam on June 2, 2020.

Three months later, in September, the court heard that he emailed Mr Tudge asking “if you can help my friend” Mr Lam, who wanted an exemption to travel to Vietnam.

The application ended up being forwarded through the “normal channels” to the Australian Border Force.

Former Liberal Party candidate Di Sanh Duong. Picture: David Crosling

Asked by prosecutor Patrick Doyle, SC, whether he knew of any links between Mr Duong and the CCP to China’s Ministry of State Security or the United Front Work Department, Mr Tudge replied, “No”.

“They would have been a red flag to me, to be cautious in dealing with such an individual,” he replied.

Mr Tudge, on cross examination from defence barrister Peter Chadwick SC, said he didn’t recall any discussion of politics with Mr Duong at the RMH event, or in earlier meetings.

The pair first met in July, 2018 when the then-Multicultural Affairs minister held a full day of meetings with Chinese leaders amid concerns about “social cohesion”, with about one million people in Australia not able to speak English.

He wanted to discuss policy ideas around potentially introducing new English language requirements, with Mr Duong among leaders called for an hour-long meeting.

Two years later, in April 2020, Mr Duong emailed the minister: “Hi Alan, I hope you still remember me,” before asking about making the donation.

By October 2020, the minister was telling police, “there was nothing unusual about the event at the Royal Melbourne Hospital”.

“I thought it was a success and we attracted media,” he said.

The trial, before Judge Richard Maidment, continues.