PM Declines to Comment on Fundraiser Hosted by Wealthy Chinese Businessman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has largely declined to discuss his attendance at a private fundraising dinner hosted by Felix Lee, the son of Chinese-born businessman Phillip Lee, who is subject to an Australian Taxation Office (ATO) investigation.A report by the Australian Financial Review mentions a source who claims Lee promised to donate around $1 million to the Labor Party during the dinner, though this has not been officially confirmed.“I attend lots of functions in lots of places,” Albanese told ABC Insiders in response to the event.“I attend lots of dinners in lots of places, I don’t talk about private dinners …”“I attended a dinner last night with 750 people … I attend a lot of meetings, functions, with lots of people.”When asked if he was aware of concerns around Felix Lee’s parents’ financial activities, Albanese said he was “not aware of those issues” and that the man’s father was not at the dinner.The private event, held at the Lee family’s Point Piper mansion, allegedly included fellow guests Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn, former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, ex-ASIC Chairman James Shipton, and David Murray, a former chair of the Future Fund.The ATO formerly assessed Phillip Lee, his wife Xiaobei Shi and associated companies as owing approximately $272.9 million in tax, penalties and interest, an assessment the Lees contest.In court material reported by the media, the ATO also alleged that Phillip Lee retained interests in Chinese businesses and that some transfers characterised as loans were sham arrangements concealing taxable income.The proceedings were reportedly resolved confidentially, without a final court judgment determining whether the ATO’s allegations were established.Phillip Lee Present at Star Casino InquiryThe older Phillip Lee was also a witness during a 2022 inquiry into suspected money-laundering activities at Star casino in Sydney.Evidence before the Bell inquiry indicated that Phillip Lee purchased approximately $2.2 billion in casino chips over about 15 years and sustained net losses of roughly $57 million.The inquiry examined Star’s handling of China UnionPay transactions, including transactions recorded as hotel expenses despite the funds being used for gambling.Politicians’ Call for AnswersOne Nation leader Pauline Hanson said Chinese money laundering into Australia was a major issue.“The organiser, Felix Lee has been subject to scrutiny by Australia’s banking regulator. His parent’s were chased by the ATO for an alleged $273 million in unpaid tax. The Point Piper mansion the prime minister attended for the fundraiser is subject to a security claim by the tax office,” Hanson wrote on social media.“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.”Former senator and accountant Gerard Rennick called for foreign influence to be removed from local politics.“Hopefully he will have the good sense to return any money donated to the Labor Party and do more to stop the rabid foreign influence that pervades Australian politics,” he said on X.The Epoch Times contacted Prime Minister Albanese, the ATO, and the Lee Family Office for comment.