The NSW Liberal Party has confirmed Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis’ 2016 election campaign received a $10,000 donation from Chaoshan No Pty Ltd, a company owned by Huang Xiangmo, the Chinese developer accused of having close links to the Chinese Communist Party.
The donation, dated May 30, 2016, is listed on a Political Donations and Gift disclosure lodged with Ryde City Council and signed by Xiaozhi Luo.
A search of Australian Electoral Commission records shows a $10,000 donation made to the NSW Division of the Liberal Party on the same date, but there is no indication it went to Ms Sudmalis’ campaign.
The Gilmore MP said she checked with the party’s NSW Division executive on Wednesday and was told there was no record of the money going to the Gilmore Federal Electoral Conference.
“I confirm we cannot find any donations to Gilmore FEC from Huang Xiangmo or any of his companies,” she said. She was informed in an email from the Liberal Party’s NSW State Division deputy state director.
“I did not get $10,000,” Ms Sudmalis said.
However, a party spokesman told Fairfax Media a search of party records revealed a $10,000 donation from Chaoshan Number 1 directed to the Gilmore Federal Electoral Conference.
Gilmore campaign director Joanna Gash also earlier denied $10,000 had been received from the Chinese company: “I was on the campaign and I’m not aware of it at all; there’s a bit of skulduggery going on.”
Defeated Gilmore Labor candidate Fiona Phillips said she was shocked.
“Ann Sudmalis supported the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement which made it easier to use foreign workers and now I can see why she was selling out local workers,” she said.
The disclosure relates to a $276 million plan by Mr Huang’s Yuhu Group to demolish and rebuild the Eastwood shopping centre. The disclosure is required by law. His association with Mr Huang led to Sam Dastyari’s resignation from the parliament on Tuesday.
