Zi Chun Wang, who works for the Ever Bright Group, which has developments in Victoria, gave two separate donations in lead up to 2013 federal election

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A mystery donor who personally made the largest contribution to the Australian Labor party in the lead up to the 2013 election is linked to a Chinese-Australian property group with major development projects in Victoria.

Zi Chun Wang made an $850,000 donation to the federal Australian Labor party in August 2013 in two separate donations. The combined donations outstrip the second highest donor to the party by $250,000.

But Wang’s identity has been difficult to determine. His donation declaration lists only an email address, a Chinese phone number and an address located in the Hebei province of China. No details of his business practices or interests in Australia are provided.

Guardian Australia can reveal that Wang currently works for a Chinese-Australian property development group called the Ever Bright Group. The company confirmed he is currently employed at the group and working in China.

Henry Tsai, director of property development at Ever Bright Group, confirmed that Wang had made the donation, but stressed it was made in a personal capacity and was not associated with the company.

“The donation was made under his personal capacity and has no association with our company,” he said.

Guardian Australia attempted to contact Wang by email but received no response. When Guardian Australia asked to speak to Wang through Ever Bright Group, the company said that Wang preferred not to speak to the media.

The Ever Bright Group has been involved with a number of multimillion dollar property development projects in Australia and China, including the $140m Stonington Mansion site in Melbourne, and an apartment complex in Surrey Hills, Victoria.

Australia’s federal donation laws do not impose limits on offshore donations from companies or individuals, and it has grown increasingly common to see substantial donations from foreign investors.

In another high profile case, it was previously revealed that the prominent Chinese businessman Dr Chau Chak Wing had in 2009 provided more than $2m to Australia’s major political parties.

Wing’s company Kingold was also the second highest donor in the 2013-2014 financial year, with a $600,000 donation to the Labor party.

The Australian Labor party national secretary was contacted for comment, but has not responded to questions.