Chinese businessmen with links to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop have donated half a million dollars to the Western Australian division of the Liberal Party during the past two years, it's been reported.
All the donors have links to the Chinese government, and the vast bulk of the money was given by companies with no apparent business interests in WA, Fairfax Media reports, based on political disclosures.
Ms Bishop, the leading federal member of the party in WA, has singled out each of the three key donors for praise.
Several of the donations have been obscured by the channelling of funds via executives or related companies, or by the donors' failure to disclose them to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), in apparent breach of Commonwealth law, Fairfax says.
It says the revelations raise further questions about foreign donations linked to ministers with trade and diplomatic responsibilities and heighten anxiety about the influence of foreign governments in Australian politics and business.
Fairfax said Ms Bishop did not respond to questions about how she handled potential conflicts between her responsibilities as a party fundraiser and minister.
