A Chinese billionaire allegedly paid a lobbyist tens of thousands of dollars for access to Australia’s hardline immigration minister.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton met in 2016 with Huang Xiangmo to discuss obtaining Australian citizenship, ABC News has claimed.

The lunch in a private dining room of a Sydney restaurant was arranged by the lobbyist, according to an investigation by the national broadcaster.

Mr Huang’s request for citizenship was later rejected and he was barred from returning to Australia on the recommendation of Australian spy agencies, who claim he is part of China’s Communist Party influence campaign.

Mr Huang has been at the centre of a series of scandals in Australian politics, including accusations he donated millions to major parties in order to buy influence. He continues to deny any wrongdoing.

In 2015, Mr Dutton gave approval to then-Labor MP Sam Dastyari to conduct a private citizenship ceremony for Mr Huang's wife and two children. Mr Dastyari was forced to end his promising political career last year over his links to China, including the revelation that he allowed a company owned by Huang Xiangmo to pay a legal bill for his office.