Jing Lee

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The Honourable
Jing Lee
MLC
Lee in 2018
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 March 2010
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council
In office
19 April 2022 – 10 January 2025
Succeeded byHeidi Girolamo
Personal details
Born (1967-07-12) 12 July 1967 (age 58)
Malaysia
Political partyIndependent (2025–present)
Other political
affiliations
Alma materUniversity of South Australia
OccupationPolitician
Websitewww.jinglee.com.au

Jing Shyuan Lee[1] (born 12 June 1967)[citation needed] is a Malaysian-Australian politician elected to the South Australian Legislative Council for the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia since the 2010 state election.[2] She quit the Liberal Party on 10 January 2025. She was formerly the president of the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women.[3]

Early life and education

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Lee completed primary school in 1979 before emigrating from Malaysia to South Australia. She began her education in Australia through an English language program and then continued in the public school system. After finishing high school, she studied business management at the University of South Australia.[citation needed]

Political career

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Lee (third from the right) in 2016

Lee entered the South Australian Parliament on 20 March 2010 following the state election. From 8 December 2011 to 8 February 2013, she served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Small Business, and concurrently from 8 December 2011 to 24 January 2017, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs. She then held the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Education, Families and Training from 8 February 2013 to 24 January 2017. From 25 January 2017 to 16 March 2018, she was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, Trade and Investment and Small Business.[1]

In March 2018, Lee ran for re-election to the Legislative Council from fourth place on the party’s ticket, a position that was not guaranteed due to competition from minor parties. To improve her chances, she conducted an extensive poster campaign across metropolitan Adelaide, focusing particularly on the CBD and Chinatown, using the slogan "stronger together." Supporters helped by placing posters widely to increase her visibility.[4] She was later appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, serving from 5 April 2018 to 18 March 2022.[1]

In July 2018, Lee was photographed with former presidents of the South Australian Xinjiang Association and the Chinese Consul-General in Adelaide at an event welcoming the consul-general to Australia. The association, described as Han-dominated and supported by China's diplomatic mission, has been criticised by researchers who argue it aligns with the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) United Front Work Department and promotes narratives that minimise Uyghur persecution in Xinjiang. Lee's involvement with the group was part of her wider engagement with multicultural organisations, some of which have been criticised for political ties to Beijing.[5]

In September 2020, the Liberal Party endorsed Lee as its preferred candidate for president of the South Australian Legislative Council, alongside Josh Teague for Speaker, at a party meeting in Hahndorf. Lee won the party vote against John Dawkins by seven votes to two. However, Dawkins was ultimately elected president by the council and subsequently expelled from the Liberal Party.[6][7]

Lee's appointment drew scrutiny due to her links with the Xinjiang Association, which denies persecution of China's Uyghur minority. Reports claimed she advised MPs against meeting the Falun Gong group to avoid offending Beijing and supported South Australia joining the One Belt, One Road initiative.[7] She has hosted the Xinjiang Association in Parliament, attended its events alongside Chinese consular officials, and spoken at pro-Beijing functions. Uyghur community leaders in South Australia say Lee has not engaged with their community and accuse the association of acting as a propaganda front.[8]

Concern over her ties led Tony Pasin, Nicolle Flint, and Alex Antic to call for an inquiry, and an online petition requested ASIO investigate her apparent connections to the CCP. Lee denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded and part of a smear campaign motivated by sexism, racism, and political opposition to her candidacy. She defended her work with multicultural groups, including the Xinjiang Association.[9] Following media reports, photos of Lee at association events were removed from her social media accounts, and some federal MPs urged a national security investigation into her reported links to the Chinese government.[10][11]

In September 2020, Lee was selected by the Liberal Party as its preferred candidate to become President of the South Australian Legislative Council, where the party did not hold a majority. Dawkins also nominated for the role and was elected by the council, leading to his expulsion from the Liberal Party.[12] From 21 April 2022 to 29 January 2023, Lee served as Shadow Minister for Communities. She also held the positions of Shadow Minister for Multicultural South Australia and Shadow Minister for Tourism and Hospitality from 21 April 2022 to 19 August 2024. On 19 April 2022, she was appointed Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, a role she retained until 10 January 2025. Additionally, from 19 April 2024 to 10 January 2025, she served as Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and from 19 August 2024 to 10 January 2025, as Shadow Minister for Tourism.[1]

In October 2024, Lee said she was "blindsided by fear" and entered "panic mode" after being put in a situation that made her fear for her Upper House preselection. This pressure led her to withdraw from a pairing arrangement with Michelle Lensink, who was on medical leave for cancer treatment, just minutes before a vote on abortion legislation, forcing Lensink to rush to Parliament. Lee described the incident as a "horrible experience" and said she felt "very vulnerable," without naming who in the party was responsible.[13][14] On 10 January 2025, Lee resigned from the Liberal Party to sit as an Independent, citing the 2023 parliamentary dispute over abortion legislation and concerns about her preselection position as key factors.[15][16] She stepped down from her Shadow Portfolios, with Vincent Tarzia expressing disappointment.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Hon Jing Lee". Parliament of South Australia. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Hon Jing Lee". Members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  3. ^ "2010 Advisory Committe Members". Asia Pacific Business Council for Women. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  4. ^ Fedorowytsch, Tom (9 March 2018). "SA MP's election poster blitz catches eyes across Adelaide". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  5. ^ Li, Lin; Leibold, James (6 July 2022). "The Chinese Communist Party's overseas influence operations seek to alter the Xinjiang narrative". The Strategist. Archived from the original on 17 March 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  6. ^ Richardson, Tom (4 September 2020). "A party divided: Libs in turmoil as factions declare war". InDaily. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b Penberthy, David (4 September 2020). "Federal liberal MPs push for investigation into South Australian MP Jing Lee over alleged China links". The Australian. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. ^ Penberthy, David (28 August 2020). "Uighur outrage at Liberal MP Jing Lee's links with Beijing propaganda arm". The Australian. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  9. ^ Henson, Elizabeth (30 September 2020). "Liberal MP Jing Lee and Xinjiang Association of SA both deny connections to the Chinese Communist Party". AdelaideNow. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  10. ^ Penberthy, David (29 August 2020). "SA Liberal MP Jing Lee wipes photos over alleged Beijing links". The Australian. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  11. ^ Smith, Matt (3 September 2020). "Federal Liberal MPs push for investigation into SA Upper House president nominee Jing Lee's links to China". The Advertiser. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  12. ^ "'White-hot anger': SA Liberals expel John Dawkins from party". ABC News. 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  13. ^ "More Liberal shambles as Lib MP tearfully reveals her "fear" amid far-right threat". Premier of South Australia. 30 October 2024. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  14. ^ Biggs, Harvey (29 October 2024). "Liberal MP went into 'panic mode' before voting on abortion law amendments". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  15. ^ MacLennan, Leah (19 January 2025). "Jing Lee's defection is the latest in a long line by SA Liberals". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  16. ^ Mason, Olivia (11 January 2025). "Senior SA Liberal announces resignation from party". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  17. ^ Kelsall, Thomas (13 January 2025). "Preselection threat hangs over senior SA Liberal's resignation". InDaily. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
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