This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/04/anthony-albanese-says-chinese-lease-port-of-darwin-should-return-to-australia
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Albanese declares Chinese-controlled Port of Darwin should ‘be in Australian hands’ | Albanese declares Chinese-controlled Port of Darwin should ‘be in Australian hands’ |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| PM says two options on table: for an Australian-owned company to take control, or for port to return to being a government asset | PM says two options on table: for an Australian-owned company to take control, or for port to return to being a government asset |
| The Labor government is on the hunt for a buyer for the Port of Darwin despite the Chinese-owned company who holds the lease insisting it is not for sale. | The Labor government is on the hunt for a buyer for the Port of Darwin despite the Chinese-owned company who holds the lease insisting it is not for sale. |
| Landbridge Group took control of the port in 2015 after the Northern Territory government signed a $506m agreement while in financial duress. | Landbridge Group took control of the port in 2015 after the Northern Territory government signed a $506m agreement while in financial duress. |
| The deal gave Landbridge 100% operational control of the port, but Anthony Albanese on Friday declared the Country Liberal Party should have “never flogged it off”. | |
| In 2023 before a trip to Beijing, Albanese ruled out cancelling the company’s lease as he sought to repair ties with China. | In 2023 before a trip to Beijing, Albanese ruled out cancelling the company’s lease as he sought to repair ties with China. |
| But speaking with ABC Darwin on Friday afternoon, the prime minister indicated he wanted commercial negotiations to take place, and was “prepared to go down the road of taxpayer direct involvement” if needed. | But speaking with ABC Darwin on Friday afternoon, the prime minister indicated he wanted commercial negotiations to take place, and was “prepared to go down the road of taxpayer direct involvement” if needed. |
| He confirmed that two options were on the table – for the port to be privately owned by an Australian company, or return to being a government asset. The key, he said, is that it “be in Australian hands”. | He confirmed that two options were on the table – for the port to be privately owned by an Australian company, or return to being a government asset. The key, he said, is that it “be in Australian hands”. |
| Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter | |
| Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter | |
| “We are trying to see if there is a private buyer, particularly through superannuation funds,” he said. “The CLP should have never flogged it off.” | |
| Albanese said the government would have “more to say” before the federal election on 3 May, but he argued Landbridge has “not had the investment into the port that’s required to bring it up to scratch”. | Albanese said the government would have “more to say” before the federal election on 3 May, but he argued Landbridge has “not had the investment into the port that’s required to bring it up to scratch”. |
| “We don’t think that it is being utilised enough for Darwin,” he said. “Darwin has an enormous potential to be a growth area of increasing our exports through the Port of Darwin, and that is part of the context that we’re dealing with here.” | “We don’t think that it is being utilised enough for Darwin,” he said. “Darwin has an enormous potential to be a growth area of increasing our exports through the Port of Darwin, and that is part of the context that we’re dealing with here.” |
| Albanese said a majority of ports around Australia, like airports, are owned by superannuation funds, “which means that they’re owned by the Australian people and help to make contribution to their savings.” | Albanese said a majority of ports around Australia, like airports, are owned by superannuation funds, “which means that they’re owned by the Australian people and help to make contribution to their savings.” |
| Albanese also said the matter had been raised with the current and previous Northern Territory governments “over a period of time”, but that the “Commonwealth has also had separate discussions as well.” | Albanese also said the matter had been raised with the current and previous Northern Territory governments “over a period of time”, but that the “Commonwealth has also had separate discussions as well.” |
| Terry O’Connor, the non-executive director for Landbridge in Australia, said the company has not been involved in “any discussions” with the federal government concerning the lease arrangements. | Terry O’Connor, the non-executive director for Landbridge in Australia, said the company has not been involved in “any discussions” with the federal government concerning the lease arrangements. |
| “As previously stated, and confirmed by our owner, the port is not for sale,” O’Connor said. | “As previously stated, and confirmed by our owner, the port is not for sale,” O’Connor said. |
| “Landbridge considers the port a long-term investment that has reported record operational performance this year. We expect this growth to continue in the future.” | “Landbridge considers the port a long-term investment that has reported record operational performance this year. We expect this growth to continue in the future.” |
| Immediately after Albanese’s interview on ABC Darwin, Peter Dutton told News Corp: “In the current geopolitical environment, it is vital that this piece of critical infrastructure, which is directly opposite to the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct, is operated by a trusted, Commonwealth approved entity.” | Immediately after Albanese’s interview on ABC Darwin, Peter Dutton told News Corp: “In the current geopolitical environment, it is vital that this piece of critical infrastructure, which is directly opposite to the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct, is operated by a trusted, Commonwealth approved entity.” |
| The deal struck by Landbridge Group in 2015, resulting from a tender process begun in 2014, gave it 100% operational control of the port. | The deal struck by Landbridge Group in 2015, resulting from a tender process begun in 2014, gave it 100% operational control of the port. |