Senator Pauline Hanson has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of hypocrisy for attending a Labor fundraising dinner hosted by Felix Lee, the son of Chinese billionaire Phillip Dong Fang Lee. The event, held at Lee's Point Piper mansion, has drawn scrutiny due to the elder Lee's past dealings with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Albanese, when questioned on ABC's Insiders program, stated that he attends "lots of functions in lots of places" and repeated the assertion that he was "not aware" of any issues regarding the Lee family's financial history. He did, however, concede that Felix Lee's father was not present at the dinner.
Felix Lee had reportedly offered a donation of approximately $1 million to the Labor Party, though the event is understood to have raised less than $100,000. The fundraiser was attended by other prominent figures, including Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn and former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Hanson criticized Albanese's decision to attend the dinner, stating, "If Labor didn't have double standards, they wouldn't have any." She highlighted that the Prime Minister "hits Australians with some of the highest taxes in the world, then dines with the family of a man the tax office reportedly chased for a quarter of a billion in unpaid tax."
Phillip Dong Fang Lee, a businessman involved in property and casinos, faced allegations from the ATO regarding financial transactions between his Chinese and Australian bank accounts. The ATO froze his assets in 2021 and reached a settlement the following year. Hanson also noted that the Point Piper mansion where the fundraiser was held is subject to a security claim by the tax office and that Lee's father was a figure in a 2022 inquiry into Sydney's Star casino, having reportedly put $2.2 billion through the establishment.
Albanese maintained that Labor declares all donations in accordance with the rules and is transparent about them. He emphasized that he attends many events as part of engaging with the public. The Prime Minister's office has not issued further comment on the specific allegations raised by Senator Hanson.