Fresh details have emerged about Anthony Albanese‘s attendance at a political fundraiser on the same day Peter Dutton was criticised for mingling with Sydney’s elite as Cyclone Alfred barrelled towards the Brisbane coast.
The Opposition Leader was lashed by Labor for leaving his Brisbane electorate to attend a fundraiser at the Sydney harbourside mansion of hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes on Tuesday March 4.
While the Prime Minister kept his hands clean, he allowed Employment Minister Murray Watt to assert that Mr Dutton ‘owes Queenslanders an explanation’, and repeatedly accuse him of prioritising ‘money bags’ over ‘sandbags’.
But last week it emerged Mr Albanese had also attended a fundraiser on the same day at the Cabra-Vale Diggers in south-western Sydney, reported the Australian Financial Review.
Attendees, who shelled out $2,000 per person for the privilege of having the Prime Minister’s ear, included James Chan, chairman of the Australian Chinese Buddhist Society.
Tri Vo, the Labor MP for Cabramatta in the NSW Parliament, describes him as a ‘dear friend’.
‘Not only is he a successful businessman and leader of the temple but he has also been at the forefront of many humanitarian efforts, including raising over $100,000 for the Lismore flood appeal with the temple in 2022,’ Mr Vo’s website states.
Mr Chan has deep ties with the Labor Party and was pictured alongside a grinning Chris Minns as the NSW Premier opened a Labor MP’s office in 2023.
After lashing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for attending a fundraiser on March 4, it has emerged that the Prime Minister attended a fundraiser on the same day at the Cabra-Vale Diggers in south-western Sydney after dodging direct questions on two occasions
Pictured is the Cabra-Vale Diggers in south-western Sydney
Attendees who shelled out $2,000 per person for the privilege of the Prime Minister’s ear, included James Chan, chairman of the Australian Chinese Buddhist Society (pictured, right). Mr Chan has deep ties with the Labor Party and was pictured alongside a grinning Chris Minns as the NSW Premier opened a Labor MP’s office in 2023
The Sydney Morning Herald alleged in 2019 that Mr Chan had a ‘close involvement’ with the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China (ACPPRC), a front organisation to further Beijing‘s influence in Australia.
In 2023, the ACPPRC became the first organisation to be forcibly listed as a foreign government-related entity under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme.
Mr Chan has denied any connection to the ACPPRC.
It also emerged that Mr Albanese attended a $10,000-a-head fundraiser at Aria, a restaurant overlooking the Sydney Opera House where an eight-course tasting menu without wine costs $290.
The fundraiser, first revealed by The Nightly, was due to take place on March 5 but was rescheduled for March 16 after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred blew in.
The Prime Minister’s attendance at the March 4 fundraiser only emerged days after Labor had slammed the Opposition Leader for attending a fundraiser on March 4 at Mr Hemmes’ mansion.
Mr Dutton was repeatedly grilled about the event, insisting it was ‘not a party’ but a fundraiser, and accused Labor of using the event as ‘political leverage to push out a negative campaign’.
Mr Albanese dodged questions on at least two occasions but finally admitted on Friday he had also attended a fundraiser on March 4 before flying to Queensland at 8.30pm.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured) was lashed by Labor for leaving his Brisbane electorate to attend a fundraiser at the Sydney harbourisde mansion of hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes on Tuesday March 4
‘On that day, Peter Dutton flew out of Queensland and I flew in. I did have a fundraiser during that day,’ he told Nova.
‘But then I flew up, had a meeting with Premier Crisafulli that night and then attended the meeting of the disaster coordination authority that took place the next morning, and then canceled everything else.’
At the joint press conference the following day, Mr Albanese referenced how he had arrived late at night in Queensland.
‘I met with Premier Minns yesterday morning and I travelled to Queensland late yesterday and we had a very late meeting, I’ve got to say, Premier, last night to receive the first briefing,’ Mr Albanese said on the Wednesday morning.
Questions are now being asked about whether Mr Albanese forced Queensland Emergency Services staff to wait until late on the Tuesday night to brief him.
Daily Mail Australia approached the Prime Minister’s office for comment.
The major difference between Mr Albanese and the Liberal leader was that Mr Dutton flew interstate from Queensland to Sydney to attend the fundraiser.
The Opposition Leader began last Tuesday in his northern Brisbane electorate, in the suburb of Kedron, urging residents to start preparing ‘now’ because the cyclone was a ‘very serious event’.
‘We need to make sure that we listen to the advice, that people prepare, and now is the time to listen to the authorities… about actions that you need to take in terms of preparation in your own yard, around your own business premises, in relation to supplies that you need to provide for you and your family,’ he told locals.
Pictured is The Hermitage, the Vaucluse mansion owned by Justin Hemmes
After receiving a Queensland police briefing on the cyclone alongside Mr Crisafulli, he flew to Sydney later that morning.
There he reportedly attended a lunch put on by property developer Fouad Deiri, which was held at the home of a Greek Orthodox bishop in Sydney’s south.
A spokesperson for Mr Dutton told media that it ‘was not a fundraising event, it was a luncheon meeting with Antiochian Archdiocese Church representatives and no other political donors were present’.
But news.com.au revealed that Mr Dutton’s office had previously discussed a potential donation with Mr Deiri.
‘While a potential donation was discussed in February, it was in no way linked to the meeting with His Eminence,’ a spokesperson for the property developer told the publication.
‘The sole purpose of the meeting was for Mr Deiri, who is a board member of the Archdiocese, to introduce Mr Dutton to The Antiochian Orthodox Archbishop.’
That evening, Mr Dutton attended the fundraiser at the $100million home of Mr Hemmes, who is boss of the Merivale Group which owns around 100 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Australia.