Espionage and foreign interference offences in Australia

Melbourne businessman, 68-year-old Di Sanh ('Sunny') Duong, has become the first person found guilty of preparing or planning an act of foreign interference over trying to influence former federal minister Alan Tudge to advance support for the Chinese Communist Party ('CCP').

Duong was charged following his involvement in a $37,450 donation made to Royal Melbourne Hospital in June 2020. He presented a novelty cheque and stood next to Tudge at the media event, as president of the Oceania Federation of Chinese Organisations.

Commonwealth prosecutor Patrick Doyle SC argued that the donation was not a genuine gesture, instead submitting that Duong had regular contact with CCP intelligence operatives and was seeking to improperly influence Tudge.