The Chinese billionaire and major political donor Huang Xiangmo has hit out at a decision to bar him from Australia, describing his treatment as “grotesquely unfair” and telling political parties to return his money if they believe it was given inappropriately.
Huang has been effectively barred from re-entering Australia after authorities blocked his bid for citizenship and cancelled his residency. Concerns have been raised about his long-running involvement with the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, which experts say acts as part of China’s global influence network.
Huang said his treatment by Australian authorities was “profoundly disappointing”.
“The decision of visa cancellation was made based on unfounded speculations that are prejudiced and groundless,” he said in a statement. “This is not the Australia that I believe in, the Australia of freedom, democracy, rule-of-law and fairness, but I keep my faith in law and justice.”
Huang has donated $2.7m to major parties in Australia. He came to notoriety through his dealings with the former Labor senator Sam Dastyari, who Huang gave $5,000 to cover “legal…
