Wollongong MP Noreen Hay has hit back at allegations she promoted an unregulated Beijing agency that recruits overseas students during a 2013 visit to China, and failed to declare the trip.
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The claims were aired on Tuesday by NSW government whip in the Legislative Council, Peter Phelps, during a debate that centred around a report on the ABC's Four Corners program last month.
Dr Phelps said the April 20 program on Australia's universities and foreign students included the Shinyway Education Group, which reportedly promised a top-line education but paid "dodgy agents offshore to drum up business ... turn a blind eye to cheating ... and turn out poorly trained graduates".
"In this regard, I am deeply disturbed to learn of the role that the Member for Wollongong has played in promoting Shinyway's business," Dr Phelps said.
"On the morning of 18 September, 2013, a three-person delegation, led by the Member for Wollongong, visited the Shinyway Education Group."
Dr Phelps said Ms Hay was then guest of honour at the launch of Shinyway Education in Sydney on October 24, which "raises some interesting questions".
"Perhaps the most important question is: What is [Opposition Leader Luke] Foley going to do about this? He has made much of the need for reform in Labor and now is the opportunity for him to put his money where his mouth is," he said.
"My concern is about Shinyway, who is promoting it in this country and whether they should be promoting it. It raises an interesting question about this trip to China. Who paid for the airfare, accommodation, meals and transport?
"If Ms Hay did not pay for these elements, why is there nothing in her pecuniary interest returns indicating travel or gifts received?"
The Wollongong MP refuted the allegations in a personal explanation to the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
Ms Hay said Dr Phelps had "sought to impugn my reputation with innuendo and smear" in relation to the trip, on which she was accompanied by her personal assistant Kiley Martin.
"I absolutely refute any suggestion of wrongdoing on my part and can provide the Parliament with a copy of my e-ticket, which clearly shows that the trip was paid for by me, and confirmation of my hotel booking," she told Parliament.
Ms Hay said she would also provide a copy of an invitation letter from the CPC Nanhu Committee and the people's government of Nanhu district, along with correspondence with then Premier Barry O'Farrell that described the visit to "China businesses and educators, including the vice-chancellor of Jiaxing University".
"You can hardly claim I was keeping this a secret from the government or the Parliament," she said.
"I was not the beneficiary of any complimentary travel or expenses, hence that is why I did not declare it in my pecuniary interest declaration.
"Mr Phelps should do the honourable thing and apologise for abusing parliamentary privilege and making baseless personal attacks against myself and my staff."
andrew.pearson@fairfaxmedia.com.au