The Chinese telco giant allegedly involved in state-sponsored espionage has been the biggest corporate sponsor of travel for Australia's politicians.
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More than one-in-five corporate trips over the past eight years were provided by Huawei, a new report shows.
The Jewish Affairs Council sponsored the most trips overall, sending more than 40 MPs to Israel.
One of the beneficiaries was Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who accepted Huawei largesse in 2011 while in opposition.
"It's not a good look for a foreign affairs minister to be doing that," independent senator Derryn Hinch said.
Ms Bishop told parliament in 2016, when the issue was raised by Labor, that it was not unusual to accept sponsored travel and she had properly declared the trip.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute report found Huawei sponsored 12 trips for federal politicians from various parties between 2010 and 2018.
The report focused on trips to Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen by Ms Bishop and Trade Minister Steve Ciobo, among others.
The sponsored junkets included business class flights, domestic travel, free accommodation and meals.
Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm said the general principle was that all free trips be declared in the pecuniary interest register.
"Then if there's any suggestion that you're influenced, it's on the public record and voters can decide for themselves," he said.
"I wouldn't accept any trips of that kind."
Labor leader Bill Shorten said it was important that MPs were not influenced by the trips they took.
"The trips were fully disclosed, I think the bigger issue is making sure that national security is the number one priority for people and that they're not influenced by these trips," he told reporters.
Labor senator Doug Cameron cited the case of former trade minister Andrew Robb who has worked for Chinese companies since quitting politics.
"My major concern would be people who are making decisions in post-political life join these Chinese companies," he said.
"When they were in politics arguing for free-trade agreements and the like with China."
Huawei's involvement in constructing Australia's national broadband network was blocked in 2012, following security concerns.
Security officials have also expressed concerns about whether the company should be allowed to equip Australia's 5G communications network.
The government also cut the telco out of a project that funds a high-speed internet undersea cable between Australia and the Solomon Islands.
Australian Associated Press
