Huang donation ‘had no sway on the ALP’s China free-trade compromise’

Bill Shorten has rejected suggestions a $55,000 donation influenced Labor over a free-trade deal with China.

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten. Picture: AAP

Bill Shorten has rejected suggestions receipt of a $55,000 donation at an October 2015 “boardroom lunch” attended by Chinese Communist Party-linked billionaire Huang Xiangmo influenced Labor’s position on a landmark free-trade deal with China.

The Federal Labor Business Forum — an ALP fundraising arm — organised the October 5 lunch in Sydney, attended by both the Opposition Leader and Mr Huang at the height of a fierce political row over the trade agreement.

The donation was properly disclosed with the Australian Electoral Commission and was received by the ALP on October 20, one day before Mr Shorten struck a compromise with the Turnbull government to support the China trade pact.

Mr Shorten had previously ­described it as a “dud deal” and elevated union concerns the agreement’s labour market provisions were too soft and would deny jobs to locals.

The $55,000 donation to the ALP was made through a company linked to the Yuhu Group, chaired and founded by Mr Huang, called Mandarin International Investment Pty Ltd, with both groups sharing the same North Sydney address.

A spokesman for Mr Shorten yesterday said Labor had campaigned for a “stronger China free-trade agreement that protected local jobs” and successfully “pressured the government to cave in to our position.”

“The opposition’s position was determined by the national interest, Australian jobs and the Labor caucus,” he said.

In 2015, ASIO director Duncan Lewis warned the major parties about taking political donations from Mr Huang because it could be a gateway for Chinese Communist Party influence in Australia.

His spokesman said Mr Shorten had “always acted in accordance with the advice of security agencies”.