Huawei paid for Australian politicians to go on more trips to China than any other company
China's Huawei has paid for Australian politicians' overseas trips more than any other company in the world.
Over the last eight years, the Chinese firm has funded 12 international trips to China for federal MPs, more than double the number of trips provided by the next highest corporate sponsor, Fortescue Metals Group, owned by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest. The Chinese government also paid for accommodation for seven trips.
The data for paid flights and accommodation came from parliamentary registers and was analyzed in a new report by the think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
"While Huawei's sponsorship of politicians' travel to China doesn't breach any rules, the number of trips it has funded raises questions about whether MPs should be able to accept any funded travel from corporations," wrote Fergus Hanson, ASPI's head of International Cyber Policy Centre, with research intern Jessica Clarence.
