Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo launches extraordinary attack on ATO, NSW ICAC and media

Controversial donor Huang Xiangmo has labelled himself a victim of political persecution.

Huang Xiangmo. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

Exiled Chinese property developer Huang Xiangmo has accused the Australian Tax Office of “surrendering to the pressure of some unknown dark forces” in subjecting him to “political persecution” over a $140 million tax bill.

The property tycoon has also blamed “unfair” treatment and “groundless” allegations against him on a “rare collaboration” involving the ATO, ASIO, the immigration department, media outlets and a corruption inquiry.

The extraordinary verbal barrage from Mr Huang on Wednesday came 48 hours after he was given 21 days to declare all of his assets to the Federal Court as the ATO seeks to have him declared bankrupt in Australia while pursuing him for allegedly “grossly underestimating income”.

Mr Huang, who arrived in Australia in 2011 from China, established his Yuhu property group locally and quickly became a big political donor to political parties, is currently of interest to a separate NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation where it is alleged “fake” donors were used to hide an illegal $100,000 cash contribution he gave to the NSW ALP.

The Chinese billionaire has been living in Hong Kong since December when his Australian residency was revoked by the federal government on ASIO advice he was a “foreign interference” risk with strong links to the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing.

As part of his fight against the ATO’s claim for $140 million in unpaid taxes, Mr Huang has now set up a website and launched a blistering counter-assault in a six-page statement, posted in English and Chinese, claiming he had “never once failed to be an honest businessman” and “never had any history of default anywhere, let alone any record of tax evasion”.

He also came out swinging over what he called “deep state” accusations he was an “agent of influence”, saying “despite years of stringent investigation” ASIO had to virtually admit there was “not even a hair of evidence” against him.

Mr Huang said Australians should now realise attacks on him came from an “amazingly synergised collaboration” among media outlets, intelligence agencies, the immigration department and the ATO that “would be unexplainable without the involvement of a deep state”.

He claimed the ATO had made a “foolish mistake” in estimating his tax liability by including among his assets property that was subject to a levy collected by the Chinese government. He also denied recently transferring large sums of money out of Australia, accusing the ATO of “deliberately concealing” the funds were “normal working capital” recently transferred to Australia from abroad.

The billionaire further claimed “to the relief of many Australians and myself personally”, ICAC’s corruption hearing had offered sufficient evidence he was not involved in the donations matter. “My name has been cleared, although the taxpayers paid dearly for those weeks of futile effort,” he said.

So far Mr Huang has declined an ICAC request to give evidence to its inquiry, including by videolink.

Mr Huang said the ATO was believe to be a professional government agency with integrity but “it really pains and saddens me that it has now surrendered itself to the pressure of some unknown dark forces, almost allowing itself to become a tool for political persecution against me.

Suggesting attacks on him were racially based, he said: “Are those Australian politicians and media outlets who bank on telling tales about China and the Chinese any different from the White Supremacists or the McCarthyites? The Australian democracy, freedom and rule of law – are they for display only?”

An ATO spokesman said he could not comment on the tax affairs of specific taxpayers due to taxpayer confidentiality.

“However, the ATO administers the taxation and superannuation laws fairly, and taxation laws require the Commissioner of Taxation to administer taxation laws independently,” the tax office spokesman said.

“The ATO operates as an Independent Statutory Agency and taxation secrecy laws prevent the ATO disclosing taxation mattes to Ministers and Parliamentarians except in very limited specified circumstances.”

The ATO did not say whether or not it had made any disclosures in relation to Mr Huang.