Community Group Denies Links to Beijing After Election Volunteer Controversy
A Chinese community leader at the centre of controversy surrounding the federal election has vehemently denied accusations that his group is working to promote Chinese government interests, describing the claims as “slander” and warning of the chilling effect on Chinese Australians.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirmed it has referred the matter to the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce following media reports that the Hubei Association, a Melbourne-based community organisation, had helped mobilise volunteers for election campaigns — including those of Housing Minister Clare O’Neil and independent MP Monique Ryan.
The group has previously been linked to China’s United Front Work Department, an agency tasked with advancing Beijing’s influence abroad. But its president, Ji Jianmin, told the ABC in an exclusive interview that he had no links to Beijing and had not received any foreign funds.
“Australia is my home. I’m absolutely loyal to Australia,” Mr Ji said. “Not a penny of funds comes from an overseas power. All the money is coming from people living in Australia but originally from Hubei.”
Allegations Spark Political and Media Backlash
The controversy began when The Age reported that the Hubei Association had recruited volunteers for Dr Ryan’s campaign in the Melbourne seat of Kooyong. Video footage appeared to show volunteers saying they were told by the group to support her.
The following day, The Australian revealed the group had also offered to provide volunteers for Clare O’Neil’s campaign in the seat of Hotham — an offer Ms O’Neil said her office had politely declined.
Mr Ji insisted he never directed anyone to vote for a specific candidate and said any support for Dr Ryan came from community appreciation of her work, such as organising public lectures for elderly Chinese Australians.
“Personally, I don’t care about politics… we just want to live a good life in Australia,” he said.
Two volunteers featured in the original video — Jessica Yuan and Steven Mao — backed Mr Ji, telling the ABC they were not Hubei Association members and had acted independently out of respect for Dr Ryan’s community work.
Disputed Timeline and Miscommunication
Adding complexity to the situation, ALP member Chap Chow, a community organiser and friend of Mr Ji, told the ABC he was the one who approached Mr Ji about providing volunteers for O’Neil’s campaign, not the other way around. Chow claimed he later withdrew the offer after seeing media reports, adding:
“It was completely my decision… I think it shows the influence of McCarthyism from the Cold War era.”
Chow also suggested that earlier discussions with O’Neil’s staff did involve seeking 10 more election day volunteers, though the Hubei Association was not explicitly mentioned.
Dr Ryan’s office maintained that her contact with Mr Ji had been incidental and limited to public events, and that he had never lobbied her on policy issues.
Calls for Transparency Amid Broader Influence Concerns
The Hubei Association is one of dozens of “hometown associations” in Australia that serve diaspora communities. A 2018 submission to Parliament by researchers Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske listed it among several United Front-linked groups, noting that larger associations were often monitored or targeted for influence by Beijing.
However, one government official told the ABC the situation remained murky:
“The status of groups like the Hubei Association is difficult to pin down because of the amorphous nature of the United Front.”
Coalition Demands Clarity
The Coalition has called for stronger action from Minister O’Neil, with campaign spokesperson Senator James Paterson saying she has “not been completely up-front” about her office’s interactions with the group.
“If you were a foreign authoritarian government and you wanted to weaken or destabilise Australia, you would probably prefer a hung parliament,” Paterson said, without naming specific actors.
Mr Ji continues to deny any wrongdoing and says he welcomes investigation.
“In a democratic Australia, this kind of fact-less slander makes all of us Chinese in Australia feel terrified,” he said.
