Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sidestepped mounting questions about his attendance at a private dinner hosted by a billionaire family accused of funnelling money from China, insisting he simply attends “a lot of dinners” and does not discuss private events.
The controversy erupted after Nine newspapers revealed the prime minister had attended a dinner at the Point Piper mansion of 25‑year‑old Felix Lee, son of Phillip Dong Fang Lee, who is facing allegations of misleading the Australian Tax Office about his holdings to channel large sums into Australian bank accounts.
Pressed during an interview on ABC’s Insiders, Mr Albanese repeatedly avoided directly acknowledging the dinner. “I attend lots of dinners in lots of places, and I don’t talk about private dinners,” he said, later adding that he meets “a lot of people” and that discussing relatives of attendees was inappropriate.
The prime minister stressed that Labor declares all donations “in accordance with the rules” and maintained that attending events is part of engaging with the community. However, questions linger over reports suggesting attendees at the dinner were expected to pledge $10,000 each as a donation to the Labor Party raising concerns about whether money could be buying political access.
Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson said the matter was of legitimate public interest, arguing the prime minister’s refusal to answer questions “raises very serious concerns about him and his judgement.”
Independent senator David Pocock echoed those concerns, saying “cash for access to our government has to stop,” warning that vested interests continue to wield disproportionate influence over policy from gas taxation to gambling reform.
Several Labor frontbenchers, when questioned on Friday, referred all matters relating to donations back to the party, declining to comment further as scrutiny intensifies.
+ There are no comments
Add yours