Chinese-born businesswoman Helen Liu paid for Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon to travel first class to China in 1993 before they had ever met, giving him access to top Communist Party officials.
The Canberra Times can reveal that in June 1993 one of Ms Liu's companies paid for Mr Fitzgibbon and his father, Eric Fitzgibbon then a federal Labor MP to fly first class to China to mark the start of work on a tourist development.
During their seven-day stay, the Fitzgibbons were the guests of Shandong Province governor and top Communist Party official Zhao Zhinhao, and Ms Liu's company, Diamond Hill International.
A spokesman for Mr Fitzgibbon said yesterday the trip was the first time the minister then a senior NSW ALP official and his father's electorate officer had met Ms Liu.
Mr Fitzgibbon said last week he had accepted only small gifts from Ms Liu, but later admitted he did not declare to the Parliament two trips to China, both paid for by Ms Liu, while he was an opposition frontbencher in 2002 and 2005.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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