Australian MP denies wrongdoing after home raided over China links

Shaoquett Moselmane, a member of the opposition, said he was not a suspect in a police investigation into people suspected of working with Beijing

Australia has accused China of seeking to interfere in its domestic politics, allegations that have strained relations

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New South Wales state opposition lawmaker Shaoquett Moselmane arrives at his home in Sydney on June 26. Photo: AP

Published: 1:55pm, 29 Jun 2020Updated: 11:20pm, 29 Jun 2020

An Australian state lawmaker on Monday said he was not a suspect in a police investigation into unnamed people advancing China’s goals in Australia, days after his home and office were searched by police.

Shaoquett Moselmane, a member of the opposition Labor Party from New South Wales, said he was told the investigation was looking into other people suspected of working with China and he denied any wrongdoing.

“I have never jeopardised the welfare of our country and our people,” he told a news conference.

Police have not said why they searched Moselmane’s Sydney home on Friday and also executed a warrant for his parliamentary offices.

A view of Moselmane’s home in Rockdale, Sydney. Photo: EPA

Australia has accused China of seeking to interfere in its domestic politics, allegations that have strained relations and led Australia in 2018 to pass new national security laws that outlaw covert foreign interference in domestic politics and make industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.

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