Documents lodged as part of a planned shopping centre redevelopment have shed new light on the complicated political dealings of Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo.

The planning application will eventually be determined by a panel chaired by a member of the Greater Sydney Commission, which is headed by Lucy Turnbull, the wife of the Prime Minister.

Mr Huang is the chairman of Yuhu Group, which is behind a $276 million plan to demolish and redevelop the Eastwood shopping centre in Sydney's north-west suburbs.

Last year, Senator Dastyari was recorded defending China's policy on the South China Sea, in defiance of party policy, while flanked by Mr Huang, a donor of the ALP.

A disclosure form lodged with Sydney's Ryde Council reveals more details about the number and extent of political donations made by Mr Huang's companies.

The form details 13 separate donations paid between November 2014 and June 2016.

The document, signed by an employee of Huang Xiangmo, shows political donations made to the Liberal Party and ALP. ( Supplied )

The list begins with a donation of $50,000 to the Liberal Party in Victoria in November 2014.

It continues with $55,000 paid to the ALP for a seat at a boardroom lunch with Labor leader Bill Shorten in October 2015.

Then there was a flurry of donations coinciding with the 2016 federal election campaign.

Donations of $20,000 each were paid to the campaigns of Liberal senator Mathias Cormann and former Tasmanian Liberal MP Andrew Nikolic, who went on to lose his seat.

Another $30,000 was contributed to the NSW Labor Party's campaign coffers.

The list of donations made by Huang Xiangmo's companies Name of donor Who they donated to Date of donation or gift Amount or value (AUD) Chaoshan No. 1 Pty Ltd Bayside Forum, Liberal Party of Australia (Victoria) 17/11/2014 $50,000 Yuhu Group (Australia) Pty Ltd Bennelong Forum Annual Subscription, Liberal Party of Australia (NSW) 02/04/2015 $20,000 Mandarin International Investments Pty Ltd Boardroom lunch with Hon. Bill Shorten, ALP National 20/10/2015 $55,000 Chaoshan No.1 Pty Ltd Canning - WA Liberal Party 14/6/2016 $10,000 Chaoshan No 1 Pty Ltd Gilmore FEC - Liberal NSW 30/5/2016 $10,000 Chaoshan No.1 Pty Ltd Eric Hutchinson FEC - Liberal TAS 30/5/2016 $10,000 Chaoshan No.1 Pty Ltd Deakin FEC - Liberal VIC 16/6/2016 $20,000 Jade Fisheries Pty Ltd Tangney FEC WA Liberal Party 30/5/2016 $10,000 Jade Fisheries Pty Ltd Dobell FEC - Liberal 30/5/2016 $20,000 Jade Fisheries Pty Ltd Andrew Nikolic FEC - Liberal TAS 6/6/2016 $20,000 Chaoshan No.1 Pty Ltd NSW Labor Federal Campaign 14/6/2016 $30,000 Mandarin International Investments Pty Ltd Sturt FEC - Liberal 5/6/2016 $20,000 Chaoshan No.1 Pty Ltd Senator Mathias Cormann Campaign - Liberal WA 23/6/2016 $20,000

Parties became 'too reliant' on him and others: Huang

Asked about the political donations, a spokesman for Mr Huang said the businessman "had no interest in the stories or in commenting on them and is focusing on his business".

According to the spokesman, Mr Huang stopped making political donations in mid-2016.

"He has learned lessons along the way and a year ago he himself called for donation reform yet this is largely ignored," he said.

"He felt the political parties themselves had become too reliant on individuals such as himself and reform was need to reduce this reliance and to reduce pressure on donors and questions about their motives."

Donation to Bennelong Liberals in 2015

The development application lodged by Mr Huang's company last year is for a shopping centre in the heart of the electorate of Bennelong, where a by-election will be held this Saturday.

The project involves demolishing the existing low-rise shopping centre and replacing it with seven buildings of between six and 13 storeys.

It includes retail and commercial space as well as 440 residential units.

The disclosure form lodged with Ryde Council reveals that in April 2015, Mr Huang's Yuhu Group paid a $20,000 annual subscription to Liberal Party in Bennelong.

Alexander's volunteer links

John Alexander campaigns with Mr Xu (far left). ( Facebook: John Alexander )

Last week, it emerged that a former close adviser to Mr Huang, Tim Xu, was working on the campaign of Liberal candidate John Alexander in Bennelong.

Mr Alexander said he never spoke to Mr Xu.

"We've got 600 volunteers, he was one of them," he said.

"I read about it in the paper and by the time I read about it, he was no longer with us."

He said he did not know why Mr Xu was no longer involved with his campaign.

"I don't know why he came, I don't know why he left," he said.

The former member for Bennelong said Mr Huang was an influential businessman in the electorate.

"The Yuhu Group own the Eastwood Mall that they're redeveloping. They put in an application for 28 floors and I think they got 13," he said.

"He's a businessman who's engaged in our community, and I'm aware that he's given a great deal of money to our local charities and for that I thank him."

The Labor candidate for Bennelong Kristina Keneally said: "I think it's up to Mr Alexander to explain his connections to Mr Huang and why Mr Huang's staff are working on his campaign team."

Development decision referred to Greater Sydney Commission

As the Eastwood development is valued in excess of $20 million, the local council must refer the matter to a panel headed by a representative from the Greater Sydney Commission for a decision.

The Greater Sydney Commission is headed by Ms Turnbull.

A spokesman for the Greater Sydney Commission said Ms Turnbull has "absolutely no involvement" in the decision-making process.

"Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull plays no role whatsoever in the work of the Planning Panels, nor does the Commission provide advice or direction on matters before them."

It will be up to the five-member panel to determine whether the application is approved.

A spokesperson for Yuhu Group said: "The application is subject to proper process and any suggestion to the contrary is entirely incorrect."

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