Doubts raised over Huang Xiangmo’s cash donation to NSW Labor

Evidence from a former Ernest Wong staffer appears to contradict that of her old boss.

Jiayi Huang, a staffer for former NSW Labor MP Ernest Wong appears at ICAC Picture: Toby Zerna

An allegation Chinese property developer Huang Xiangmo was handed a “big bag of cash” filled with donations collected from other people at a NSW Labor fundraiser is under serious doubt with the suggestion there was no cash at the event.

Amid claims Mr Huang was the “true source” of an illegal $100,000 donation, a former NSW Labor staffer told a corruption inquiry on Wednesday she could not recall seeing donors give any cash at the March 2015 event.

Jiayi Huang, a former assistant to then NSW Labor Ernest Wong and not related to property developer Mr Huang, said she could not recall seeing any cash at the 600-seat event in Sydney’s Chinatown.

Giving evidence to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday, Ms Huang confirmed that non-cash methods of payment such as credit cards or cheques were the norm at such NSW Labor events.

She worked on the reception desk of the Chinese Friends of Labor event at the Eight Restaurant, where the special guests were then federal Labor leader Bill Shorten and NSW party leader Luke Foley, and said she had a similar role at other such events organised by Mr Wong.

Ms Huang’s evidence would seem to contradict that of Mr Wong, her former boss, who told the ICAC under oath earlier in the week that Chinese donors typically kept lots of cash and commonly handed it over in large amounts at NSW Labor fundraisers.

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is trying to determine whether $100,000 in cash, allegedly delivered by Mr Huang to NSW Labor’s then head office boss Jamie Clements a month after the March 2015 fundraiser, in fact came from the property developer himself.

Mr Wong told the ICAC on Monday in evidence under oath that he gave property developer Mr Huang a “big bag of cash” that had been collected by event volunteers from donors at the Chinese Friends of Labor fundraising dinner at the Eight Restaurant in Sydney’s Chinatown.

According to Mr Wong, the bag of cash was left in a bag on the head table near the end of the evening when most guests had departed, and he was alone with Mr Huang.

He claimed Mr Huang, who had been seated at the dinner with special guests Mr Shorten and Mr Foley, offered to take the bag and personally deliver it to then NSW Labor secretary Jamie Clements, saying he was due to see the party head office boss for discussions about other matters.

Ernest Wong and Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo appear together Picture: Facebook

An Aldi bag containing $100,000 cash was allegedly delivered to NSW Labor head office a month later by Mr Huang, according to ALP official Kenrick Cheah, who has said he saw the bag and was asked by Mr Clements to count the money before it was banked.

The ICAC’s counsel assisting Scott Robertson accused Mr Wong earlier this week of lying, alleging that Mr Huang was the “true source” of $100,000 giving to Mr Clements at NSW Labor’s head office. He accused Mr Wong of “selling” Mr Huang his seat at the head table for $100,000.

Mr Robertson further alleged Mr Wong was part of an elaborate cover-up afterwards, using fake donors to disguise an illegal donation from a property developer. He claimed Mr Wong made up his story about a large amount of cash given to Mr Huang after the March 2015 dinner.

Mr Huang, who has declined to give evidence to the ICAC, including by videolink, no longer lives in Australia. He was refused re-entry in December by the Morrison government on the advice of ASIO that he was an “agent of influence” of the ruling Communist Party in Beijing.

Under NSW laws, it was illegal at the time of the fundraiser for property developers to donate to parties in the state. Donations from individuals were capped at $5000.

Ms Huang was a full-time assistant working in Mr Wong’s parliamentary office at the time of the March 2015 dinner. She said she had worked on the reception at the March 2015 dinner and at other fundraising events for Mr Wong.

Mr Wong lost his seat in March this year when he was bumped down the NSW ALP’s upper house ticket for the state election to an unwinnable spot.

Ms Huang, who lost her job when Mr Wong left parliament, said she still had contact with him as a volunteer language tutor for his children.