China-linked group accused of meddling in Australia election

Canberra's election watchdog has pledged to investigate online video

20250501 Monique.jpeg

Monique Ryan, center, an independent member of the Australian parliament, visits an early-voting center in Melbourne on May 1. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

SOPHIE MAK

SYDNEY -- A Chinese Communist Party-linked group has mobilized volunteers to support an independent candidate ahead of Saturday's federal election in Australia, a video indicates, spurring allegations of foreign election interference.

The Australia Hubei Association, a Chinese diaspora group with known links to the United Front Work Department, the CCP's network that seeks to advance Beijing's interests abroad, has dispatched volunteers to assist candidates in the Australian federal election, a video released last week on TikTok by Tharini Rouwette, the founder of COMPELL, an organization dedicated to multiculturalism in Australian politics, appears to show.

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