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Wedding photo reveals Bill Shorten’s relationship with Huang Xiangmo

Bill Shorten faces further scrutiny over his relationship with Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo.

Bill Shorten (circled, left, bottom right) attends the wedding of the daughter of Huang Xiangmo (circled, top right) at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney in 2016.
Bill Shorten (circled, left, bottom right) attends the wedding of the daughter of Huang Xiangmo (circled, top right) at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney in 2016.

Bill Shorten is facing further scrutiny over his relationship with a Chinese businessman and former ALP donor with links to the Chinese Communist Party Huang Xiangmo following the release of photographs of the Labor leader attending the wedding of Mr Huang’s daughter.

The photographs emerged following a refusal by Mr Shorten’s office to explain a lunch he attended with Mr Huang in 2015 after the Chinese billionaire made a $55,000 donation to the Labor Party.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said the photographs showed the “depth” and extent of the relationship between Mr Shorten and Mr Huang.

Mr Huang was denied entry back into Australia by the Morrison government earlier this year after leaving Australia for an offshore trip. His permanent residency visa was cancelled. Security agencies are believed to have held concerns about Mr Huang’s links to the Chinese Communist Party.

Bill Shorten (circled) attends the wedding of Huang Xiangmo's daughter at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney in 2016.
Bill Shorten (circled) attends the wedding of Huang Xiangmo's daughter at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney in 2016.
Huang Xiangmo (circled) attends the wedding of his daughter at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney. The wedding was attended by Labor leader Bill Shorten.
Huang Xiangmo (circled) attends the wedding of his daughter at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney. The wedding was attended by Labor leader Bill Shorten.

Since 2012, Mr Huang and his Yuhu Group are believed to have donated more than $1 million to the ALP.

Liberal powerbroker Michael Sukkar said the ABC’s Four Corners report on Monday night — which revealed that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton had a meeting with the Chinese real estate developer, who paid at least $10,000 to former Liberal minister and lobbyist Santo Santoro — should also have referenced the Opposition leader’s lunch with Mr Huang.

Mr Huang’s property company, Yuhu Group, said in documents lodged with the City of Ryde it donated to the Labor Party for a “boardroom lunch” with Mr Shorten. Labor has since called for a ban on foreign political donations.

Former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari was forced to resign from Parliament partly due to his relationship with Mr Huang.

Bill Shorten (circled) attends the wedding of Huang Xiangmo's daughter at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney in 2016.
Bill Shorten (circled) attends the wedding of Huang Xiangmo's daughter at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney in 2016.

Mr Shorten’s office has been contacted for comment.

Read related topics:China TiesPeter Dutton
Simon Benson
Simon BensonPolitical Editor

Award-winning journalist Simon Benson is The Australian's Political Editor. He was previously National Affairs Editor, the Daily Telegraph’s NSW political editor, and also president of the NSW Parliamentary Press Gallery. He grew up in Melbourne and studied philosophy before completing a postgraduate degree in journalism.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/wedding-photo-reveals-bill-shortens-relationship-with-huang-xiangmo/news-story/7f5de2e5111b039b5d4073dfdc16b374