BOTH MAJOR PARTIES in the Federal Election have declared an intention to cancel the Chinese company Landbridge’s 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin and find new commercial owners, or effectively nationalise the port.
Apparently pre-empting an embargoed Coalition announcement, PM Anthony Albanese told Darwin radio this evening that the government had been working on a plan to end Chinese involvement for some time.
Mr Albanese said his government is looking for a private buyer, particularly through superannuation funds, to end the $506 million contract with Landbridge Group to operate the strategic facility in Australia’s north, the ABC and other media reported.
“What we are doing is we will enter into negotiations,” he said.
“That is what we’ve been doing informally, through potential buyers up to this point already, and if it reaches a point where the Commonwealth needs to directly intervene, then we’d be prepared to do that.”
He declined to detail how much his government would be willing to pay but told Radio Darwin that the government would have more to say before 3 May.
Mr Dutton said, “Only a Coalition Government will end the uncertainty regarding the Port of Darwin once and for all.”
“A Dutton Coalition Government would not permit the lease of the port to any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by a foreign government, including any state-owned enterprise or sovereign wealth fund,’’ Mr Dutton told news.com.au.
“We will appoint a specialist commercial adviser to work with the Northern Territory Government and officials from the Departments of Treasury, Finance, Defence and Infrastructure to provide advice and engage with potential new operators of the Port.
“If a private lease cannot be facilitated within six months of the process commencing, as a last resort, we will act to acquire the lease interest in the Port using the Commonwealth’s compulsory acquisition powers.
“Under this course of action, the Australian Government would compensate Landbridge Group.”
He declined to detail how much his government would be willing to pay but told Radio Darwin that the government would have more to say before May 3.
Landbridge non-executive director Terry O’Connor told DCN the company had not had any discussions with the federal government or the NT government around any of the proposals that the prime minister had announced.
“As far as the owner is concerned, there’s no intention to sell the port and there’s been no negotiations around selling the port,” he said. “We’ve said repeatedly that the port is not for sale.”
Mr O’Connor added in a statemen to the ABC that similar announcements had been made in other election campaigns and staff were not concerned.
“At this stage, there’s nothing that’s changing the current arrangement that we have. We understand the politics that are being played out here. Our perspective is we’re a commercial organisation in a legally binding contract, which involves us operating the facility for the next 90 years or so.”
“So any negotiations will have to take would have to take that into account, and I can say quite straightforward, that there’s been no engagement at any level in relation to the governments around terminating that contract or any change to the existing contract rule arrangement.”
The NT Country Liberal Party Government has welcomed the announcement that a future Dutton Coalition Government would seek to end the uncertainty and provide security for the future of Darwin Port.
Acting Chief Minister Gerard Maley said this was good news for Territorians, and the ball was now in the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s court to detail his plans.
“Prime Minister Albanese has claimed he’ll directly intervene but has provided no details. Territorians need certainty, not vague statements.
“Should Australians elect a Dutton Coalition Government, we will work with them to ensure Darwin Port is managed in the best interests of Territorians and the nation.”
