Liberal MP cuts China business ties
Published: 12/09/2019 Updated: Thursday, 12 September 2019 5:39 AM GMT+10
Gladys Lui fallout
There are fresh claims this morning the Liberal Party was warned about MP Gladys Liu's links to the Chinese Government, before the election.
Newly-elected Liberal MP Gladys Liu has cut ties with some Chinese organisations after questions about their links to China's propaganda arm.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed the Victorian MP, who initially said she could not recall being part of two Chinese government-linked propaganda organisations.
"Unfortunately, some Chinese associations appoint people to honorary positions without their knowledge or permission," Ms Liu said in a statement on Wednesday.
"I do not wish my name to be used in any of these associations and I ask them to stop using my name.
"I have resigned from many organisations and I am in the process of auditing any organisations who may have added me as a member without my knowledge or consent."
The ABC reported she had been a council member for two China Overseas Exchange Association chapters from 2003 to 2015, which were later rolled into China's United Front propaganda arm.
On Sky News on Tuesday night, Ms Liu said she could not recall whether she was involved in the organisations.
But on Wednesday, the first-term MP revealed she had an honorary role with the Guangdong Overseas Exchange Association in 2011 but no longer had any relationship with the organisation.
Former Labor senator Sam Dastyari, who resigned from the frontbench and then from parliament after scandals involving Chinese businessmen, said Ms Liu had questions to answer.
"I don't know enough about her situation to say whether or not she should resign, that's a matter for her and that's a matter for Mr Morrison," he told Sky News.
"(But) does anyone honestly believe that if she wasn't a member of the Liberal party that the prime minister and others wouldn't be calling for her scalp right now?"
The ABC reported on Wednesday night that ASIO advised then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull not to attend a 2018 fundraising dinner Ms Liu was involved with.
The event was organised before she was a Liberal candidate, but Mr Turnbull instead attended a different Chinese New Year event in Melbourne.
Senate crossbencher Rex Patrick wants Ms Liu investigated by security agencies while One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the prime minister should reassure Australians the MP was " there for the right reasons in the parliament".
Ms Liu, who was born in Hong Kong, said any suggestions she wasn't a proud Australian and passionate Chisholm MP were "deeply offensive".
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