Duong has been found guilty of preparing for or planning foreign interference, the first person to be charged with a foreign interference offence. Charges were laid after a year-long investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Federal Police. Duong, an Asian community leader with the Oceania Federation of Chinese Associations, made a $37,450 donation, leading to allegations of involvement with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While Duong’s lawyer claims he was raising money for health care workers and to combat anti-Chinese sentiment, the Melbourne businessman had also expressed ambitions to influence policy issues relating to China with government ministers.
The prosecutor claims that the donation to the Royal Melbourne Hospital was with the intention to approach government ministers on behalf of the CCP. In an intercepted phone call, Duong described Minister Alan Tudge as a potential “patron or supporter” for his Chinese community and believed Mr. Tudge could be the “prime minister in the future.” Despite Duong’s claims that he lacked CCP ties, the prosecution argued that evidence was not required to prove his intentions to seek future influence.
Witnesses reported that Duong had met with CCP leaders in China and had acted as a director of a major Chinese state-run organization, including crafting policy ideas around Chinese investment and trade benefits for Australia. The case reflects growing concerns over CCP influence in Australia, and underscores previous cases of CCP-linked political donations toppling political figures in recent years.