The senator's former adviser, Paul Han, has also been reported by prominent Chinese-language newspaper, The New Express Daily, as a director of the same association. Senator Dastyari attended the organisation's launch at a gala ceremony in October 2014 at the Westin Hotel in Sydney.

The Australian Fellowship of China Guangdong Associations was set up in September 2013. In a speech at its launch, Mr Huang said it was supported by the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.

This is a government body, which comes under China's State Council.

The launch, where Mr Huang said it was a platform to promote business links between Guangdong and Australia, was attended by Senator Dastyari and China's consul-general Li Huaxin.

Senator Sam Dastyari speaks to the media on Tuesday over the growing donations scandal. Wolter Peeters

Mr Han worked for Senator Dastyari up until the election and resigned to run for a senate spot.

Senator Dastyari met with Chinese government officials on the trips. According to Mr Huang's Yuhu Group website, on the 2015 trip Senator Dastyari thanked Mr Huang for his "thoughtful arrangement" of the trip.

NSW Labor MP Ernest Wong, who has previously pledged to support China's position on the South China Sea, has also been linked to the patriotic organisation. Senator Dastyari pushed for Mr Wong to take over former NSW treasurer Eric Roozendaal's Legislative Council spot in 2013.


In July 2014, Mr Wong led a group from the Australian Fellowship of China Guangdong Associations to the Chinese manufacturing hub of Zhuhai.

Huang Xiangmo and Sam Dastyari at a press conference for the Chinese community in Sydney on July 17, 2016. Supplied

As part of the trip, Mr Wong met with Chen Honghui, the director of the Zhuhai United Front Work Department, a Communist Party-run agency that is charged with ensuring support for the party from inside and outside China.

During the meeting, Mr Chen said the Australian association was an "important patriotic force" and played an important role in the "overseas Chinese work" of the province.

Mr Wong has met with the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Affairs Office while on trips to China.

In 2015, Senator Dastyari went on a 15-day trip from January 18 to February 1 which was paid for by Australian Fellowship of China Guangdong Associations of which Mr Huang is president.

According to his pecuniary interests register and local media reports, during the 2015 trip Senator Dastyari went to Beijing, Harbin in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang and Shenzhen in Guangdong.

He visited the offices of Mr Huang's Yuhu as well as telecommunications company Huawei – a popular destination for politicians across the aisle.


China Australian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce Incorporated, of which Mr Huang is also president, sponsored Senator Dastyari's nine-day trip this January.

Both Senator Glenn Sterle and Senator Alex Gallacher accompanied Senator Dastyari on both of his trips.

Mr Roozendaal now works for Mr Huang's Yuhu Group.

Amid government attacks, Mr Shorten upgraded his admonition of Senator Dastyari on Tuesday but refused to stand him down from the frontbench.

Senator Dastyari rejected assertions that he has done anything in return for taking the funds.

"No one has ever asked for anything in return or nor would have I done anything in return.

"I completely reject an assertion or implication that in any way, shape or form, any of my comments or decisions have been influenced by anything other than the national interest," he said.

He confirmed Mr Huang had previously paid about $5000 to cover his legal bills.

Senator Dastyari and Mr Wong were approached for comment but did not respond before deadline.