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April 29, 2025
Video of Teal MP Monique Ryan's campaign volunteers has been referred to the integrity taskforce amid concerns they were directed to support her by groups accused of ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
In a video posted online, one volunteer from the Hubei Association said the group’s president, Ji Jianmin, had directed Chinese diaspora to support Dr Ryan.
The Hubei Association has previously been accused of working with the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Department, the foreign influence operations agency.
The AEC said in a statement to The Australian that it was aware of the video and had referred it for consideration by the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce.
Dr Ryan told Sky News that while she knows Ji Jianmin, she has never asked for his support or solicited assistance from his group. She also said she welcomed the investigation.
"I've contacted the AEC and the Department of Parliamentary Services and given them the details about my relationship with those volunteers and with Mr Ji," she said.
"I've said look if you've got any concerns please investigate."
Dr Ryan admitted she has had several meetings with the Hubei Association President but denied she had ever asked for his support directly.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced in a local Facebook group on April 22, showing two volunteers wearing Monique Ryan campaign shirts.
One woman in the video said the president of the Hubei Association, Ji Jianmin “required us Chinese diaspora to support her (Dr Ryan)”.
There is no suggestion Dr Ryan sought or solicited Mr Ji’s endorsement.
The footage has since been deleted.
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson has called for an "urgent" investigation into Dr Ryan over the “very serious” claims.
“If confirmed, this would constitute an act of foreign interference in our democracy. Australian elections must be decided by Australians only,” he said.
“The Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce, led by the AEC and incorporating ASIO and the Australian Federal Police, must urgently investigate.
“Monique Ryan must be transparent about her knowledge of and involvement in this alleged scheme.”
Dr Ryan, however, rejected suggestions of improper conduct and said she was unaware of the video until a media inquiry and that no one has been compelled to volunteer for her.
“I'm not sure about the interpretation of that video, you know, whether it's accurate,” she said.
“But certainly no one's been compelled to volunteer for me, but I'm grateful for those people who have come out to volunteer on my campaign.”