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The 2016 ACETCA annual gala dinner,attended by several Labor and Liberal MPs.

Dr Tan said Professor Hamilton and Mr Joske's claim was wrong,and that his organisation had nothing to do with spying.

"There are no spies in our organisation that I know of. If there is,there’s nothing we do to spy on,"he said.

Dr Tan conceded ACETCA had donated to both major political parties and universities,which he described as a smaller part of its contributions to charitable organisations including St John Ambulance and the Rural Fire Service.

"Yes,we’ve made friends with politicians as would any Australian organisation like ours,"he said."But there’s no mischief behind it and no hidden agenda."

The Heraldreported this week ACETCA had donated close to $40,000 to state political parties since 2013,with most of the money ($29,000) going to the Liberal Party.

Dr Ven Tan,executive chairman of ACETCA.

Its events have been attended by figures including developer Huang Xiangmo,who the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard this week had unlawfully donated $100,000 to the Labor Party.

There is no suggestion ACETCA or Dr Lee was involved in Mr Huang's alleged conduct.

Former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari,Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Speaker Jonathan O'Dea have also attended ACETCA events.

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay was pictured this month at the organisation’s office too,and federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese delivered a keynote speech to ACETCA’s annual dinner last year.

ACETCA was contacted multiple times for comment before the publication of theHerald's story,but did not respond.

In the statement,ACETCA described itself as an apolitical organisation seeking to promote trade,cultural and charitable objectives.

"I love Australia. I love our democracy,including our processes like the separation of powers and the free press,"Dr Tan said.

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