1 day Ago
One of Anthony Albanese's top ministers rushes to axe Chinese recruits Clare O'Neil's office cuts ten volunteers Controversy follows Kooyong Hubei Association videos READ MORE: Australian politics is rocked by foreign interference allegations By MAX ALDRED FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 00:54 BST, 30 April 2025 | Updated: 00:57 BST, 30 April 2025 e-mail View comments Labor cabinet minister Clare O'Neil has cut ten of her campaign volunteers after it emerged they were sourced from an organisation with links to the Chinese Communist Party's foreign influence operations. The volunteers were intended to staff polling booths in the Housing Minister 's electorate of Hotham which covers suburbs including Oakleigh and Keysborough in east Melbourne . Chinese-Australian Labor Party Member Chap Chow organised the volunteers with the Hubei Association in the past week.
The Hubei Association has previously been accused of working with the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Department which seeks to influence policies in foreign nations. But Mr Chow contacted the association's president Ji Jianmin on Tuesday morning to cancel the volunteers, according to The Australian . Mr Chow said the cancellation came after media exposed that two volunteers working for the campaign of Teal member Monique Ryan in the inner-Melbourne seat of Kooyong were from the same organisation.
The two volunteers said they were told by the Hubei Association to work for Ms Ryan. Mr Jianmin was mentioned in the controversial video, with a female volunteer claiming he 'required us Chinese diaspora to support her (Dr Ryan)'. Clare O'Neil has cut 10 campaign volunteers connected to an organisation with links to China 's foreign influence operation Fotage emerged of volunteers in Kooyong claiming they were told by the Hubei Association to support Monique Ryan earlier in the week Labor Party Member Chap Chow organised the volunteers with the Hubei Association in the past week A male volunteer added: 'Monique is an independent federal MP, her policies are quite suited to the needs of us Chinese diaspora.
It feels like she can give a voice to us, so we want to support her.' Dr Ryan has denied she sought the support of the Hubei Association but admitted she has a personal relationship with its president Mr Jianmin. The video sparked an investigation by the Australian Electoral Commission.
Labor said Mr Chow, who provides a link between the ALP and the Chinese community in Melbourne, and was presenting an offer from the Hubei Association . 'This organisation contacted my office earlier this week through an intermediary to offer volunteers, and my team politely declined,' Ms O'Neil said in a statement. Read More The seven major differences between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton's vision for Australia An interpreter for Mr Ji claimed it was Ms O'Neil's office which had initiated the contact and had contacted him asking for ten volunteers.
Mr Ji's interpreter claimed the Greens - in addition to Labor and the Teals - had been in contact with the association, looking for 10 volunteers as well. Mr Ji denied his organisation was advancing the foreign policy of the CCP. 'We uphold Australian values,' he said.
'We serve and contribute to Australia — this is our responsibility and duty. 'If fulfilling our obligations as Australian citizens leads to Chinese communities being maliciously distorted, slandered, and defamed, then what justice is left?' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms O'Neil's office and the Greens for comment. Melbourne Anthony Albanese Advertisement Share or comment on this article: One of Anthony Albanese's top ministers rushes to axe Chinese recruits e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted.
Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. Add your comment Enter your comment By posting your comment you agree to our house rules . Submit Comment Clear Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
No Yes Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy ..
