A Chinese billionaire at the centre of a dispute over Beijing’s influence in Canberra has accused Australia’s tax authorities of being a “tool of political persecution” and its politicians of being no different to white supremacists.
Huang Xiangmo, founder of the property development company Yuhu Group, said on Wednesday the Australian Taxation Office had surrendered itself to the pressure of “dark forces” by pursuing him for an alleged A$140m ($96m) unpaid tax bill and freezing his assets.
The businessman, who was stripped of his Australian residency this year over intelligence agency concerns that he was an agent of foreign influence, released a nine-page statement detailing how he became the victim of an “amazingly synergised collaboration” of attacks by media, government agencies and the security services.