A LITTLE-KNOWN Australian-Chinese property billionaire has emerged as the largest offshore benefactor of Australia's political parties. Chau Chak Wing has poured more than $2 million into the coffers of the Liberal, National and Labor parties in the past decade.

In the two financial years that had the heaviest impact on the last federal election - 2006-07 and 2007-08 - he gave $980,000 to the Coalition and $402,000 to Labor.

Cr Chau with Kevin Rudd in March 2008. Credit:Australian News Express Daily

Yet despite the generous gifts to both sides he has stayed well below the radar in debates about Australia's burgeoning links with China, and is barely known outside the political and business elites in both countries.

He eclipses the Macau entrepreneur Stanley Ho as a donor because Labor returned most of Mr Ho's money after the 2007 election.