The Australia Today understands that Wyndham City Council’s governance committee has formally referred Councillor Larry Zhao to the Local Government Inspectorate (LGI) — the independent body responsible for investigating councillor conduct and breaches of the Local Government Act across Victoria.
Councillor Larry Zhao is at the centre of a diplomatic controversy after allegedly sending an unauthorised letter inviting a group of Chinese officials to Australia using council letterhead, which was understood to be “on behalf of council.”
He represents Wyndham City’s Harrison Ward and also serves as the President of the Asian Business Association of Wyndham, is accused of sending a formal invitation to six Chinese delegates for a business visit between October 19–23, without prior approval.
The letter, seen by The Australia Today, reportedly invited the delegation to tour RMIT University and Wyndham’s SPARK innovation centre to “learn about investment and science and technology innovation projects.”
It was signed “Cr Larry Zhao” and featured Wyndham City Council’s official branding.
Although the letter did not offer any financial sponsorship for the trip, the first line read that the invitation was being extended “on behalf of Wyndham City Council.”
The move signals that Wyndham City is treating the issue as an alleged potential breach of governance and ethical standards. The LGI will now assess whether Cr Zhao’s actions constitute misuse of position, unauthorised representation, or improper use of council resources.
If found in breach, the councillor could face penalties ranging from a formal reprimand to suspension or disqualification from office. Council officials said they would fully cooperate with the Inspectorate to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process.
Sources familiar with the matter said that Cr Zhao’s initial request to host the delegates was formally denied by council officers in July, yet the letter was later sent regardless.
The situation escalated when the Australian Embassy in Beijing contacted Wyndham City Council after receiving six business visa applications from Chinese officials that included Cr Zhao’s invitation letter as supporting documentation.
Embassy officials requested clarification on whether the invitation had been authorised by the council.
In response, Wyndham officers confirmed that no such authorisation had been granted and that the council was unaware of the letter being issued.
When contacted by the media, Cr Zhao denied sending the letter, saying only,
“I didn’t send the letter and I won’t comment any further.”
Wyndham City Council declined to comment on whether an internal investigation was underway, stating:
“Wyndham City does not comment on any potential investigations involving individual councillors.”
Cr Zhao, who was elected to the council in November 2024, has been active in promoting business and trade ties through his role with the local Asian business community.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson told the Herald Sun that the department had “policies and procedures for managing and escalating concerns” relating to visa applications, but would not confirm whether the delegates’ applications were approved.
The spokesperson said,
“Our priority is to ensure all matters are handled in line with our legal obligations and internal guidelines. To protect the integrity of our processes and the privacy of those involved, we are unable to comment on whether concerns were flagged in any specific instance.”
The alleged incident has raised serious governance and diplomatic questions about protocol breaches and the misuse of official council identity in correspondence with foreign entities.
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