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| Albanese declares Chinese-controlled Port of Darwin should ‘be in Australian hands’ | Albanese declares Chinese-controlled Port of Darwin should ‘be in Australian hands’ |
| (31 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. |
| Anthony Albanese revealed the plan after calling in to local Darwin radio on Friday afternoon in a deliberate attempt to get ahead of a similar announcement the Coalition has reportedly scheduled for Saturday. | Anthony Albanese revealed the plan after calling in to local Darwin radio on Friday afternoon in a deliberate attempt to get ahead of a similar announcement the Coalition has reportedly scheduled for Saturday. |
| 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. | |
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| In 2023 before a trip to Beijing, Albanese ruled out cancelling the company’s lease. | In 2023 before a trip to Beijing, Albanese ruled out cancelling the company’s lease. |
| But speaking with ABC Darwin, 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, 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”. |
| “We are trying to see if there is a private buyer, particularly through superannuation funds,” he said. “The [Country Liberal party] should have never flogged it off.” | “We are trying to see if there is a private buyer, particularly through superannuation funds,” he said. “The [Country Liberal party] 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.” | |
| 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.” | |
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| 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, 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, 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. |