Malcolm Turnbull ‘creating something out of nothing’ over Dutton-Huang meeting: Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott has accused Malcolm Turnbull of “creating something out of nothing”.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Picture: AAP

Tony Abbott has accused his prime ministerial successor Malcolm Turnbull and others of “trying to create something out of nothing” over a meeting Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton had with Huang Xiangmo, declaring no one in the government had been “bought” by the Chinese billionaire.

More: Wedding photo reveals Bill Shorten’s relationship with Huang Xiangmo

Mr Abbott said he was not aware of a fast-tracking of Mr Huang’s citizenship application when he was prime minister and any suggestion Coalition MPs had been influenced by donations was “just absurd”.

“I’ve been watching the stories that have appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald over the last few days, claiming that members of the government have in some way been improperly influenced by people close to the Chinese government. Frankly, it strikes me as a story in search of a scandal,” Mr Abbott said.

“Nothing wrong has been done by anyone. I particularly note that, sure, Peter Dutton met with the gentlemen in question yesterday but not only did the gentlemen in question not get what he wanted but he’s even has his permanent residency revoked.

“This is a government which has done the right thing by the people of Australia and the idea that any of us are going to be improperly influenced by donations, that anyone is going to get us to change our position on China through the payments of money is just absurd. That’s something that happens in the Labor Party, it certainly doesn’t happen in the Coalition parties.”

The ABC’s Four Corners reported on Monday that Mr Huang, who was trying to get Australian citizenship, paid former Liberal minister and lobbyist Santo Santoro to set up a 2016 meeting with then immigration minister Mr Dutton.

Mr Huang was a prominent donor to both major parties through his companies but was stripped of his permanent residency while overseas and prevented from returning to Australia.

Mr Turnbull yesterday made an extraordinary intervention in the political debate, calling on Scott Morrison to take action in Australia’s national interest over Mr Dutton’s meeting with Mr Huang.

Mr Turnbull noted yesterday that Mr Santoro was a “close factional ally” of Mr Dutton’s and said receiving money in return for “securing privileged access to the minister” raised concerns about lobbyists and foreign influence.

“Scott Morrison is the Prime Minister and you can’t wave this off and say ‘it is all part of gossip and the bubble’. This is the national security of Australia,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Remember the furore that arose against Sam Dastyari? All the same issues have arisen again and this has to be addressed at the highest level of security, priority, urgency by the Prime Minister. The buck stops with him.”

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Kym Smith

Asked if Mr Turnbull was making mischief, Mr Abbott responded: “Malcolm Turnbull and I are both members of the same club, we’re both former prime ministers, and the last thing I want to do is to buy into a fight with a member of my club. As far as I’m concerned he’s a respected former prime minister and I hope that feeling is reciprocated.

“A lot of people are trying to create something out of nothing. A lot of politicians have had photos with Mr Hung. A lot of politicians, including Bill Shorten, have been to events with Mr Huang. It’s not a crime to be photographed with someone. It’s not a scandal to go to an event with someone.

“It’s only a problem if you then do something which has been bought. Certainly there’s no one in this government for whom there can be the slightest suggestion of that.”

Mr Dutton, who has denied any wrongdoing regarding his meeting with Mr Huang, challenged Mr Turnbull for the Liberal Party leadership in August last year.

The Home Affairs Minister denied Mr Huang’s citizenship was discussed at the lunch at a Chinese restaurant and noted one of his government agencies had barred him from re-entering Australia.

The Prime Minister has also said there were “no issues here that have troubled me”.