China Merchants Port Holdings Co. Ltd. is a 50\% shareholder in the Port of Newcastle, on Australias eastern coast and a key hub for exporting coal. He notes laws are now in place to permit the Commonwealth to intervene on the basis of national security concerns. Chinese Already Installed Control Over European Ports. It was controversial at the time and remains so, particularly in light of China's increasingly assertive economic and militaristic strategic stance in the region. The Port of Brisbane is managed and developed by the privately owned Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd under a 99-year lease from the Queensland Government. "There's a lot wrong with the Darwin harbour, but it's the best of a bad lot across northern Australia, so over the next 99 years, if we want to build a big naval base somewhere it's probably going to be in Darwin," Mr James said. which government sold the port of darwin. According to the 2019 Agricultural Land Register report, the total area of agricultural land in Australia with a level of foreign ownership has fallen from 52.6 million hectares at 30 June 2018 to 52.1 million hectares at 30 June 2019. Blokes Who Sold Darwin Port To China Still Acting Like They Give A Fuck About National Security WENDELL HUSSEY | Cadet | CONTACT In a sign of panicked desperation, the federal government is today continuing with the whole 'nobody but us can keep us safe' national security agenda. Australia will meet its 2030 target through policies built on the proven Direct Action approach, which improve productivity, reduce costs and drive innovationsuch as the Emissions Reduction Fund, its Safeguard Mechanism and other complementary policies. The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. the Commonwealth of Australia That same point was made byAllan Behm of the Australia Institute. Copyright 2023 Fdotstokes.com Powered by Customify. Way less than market price. In theory, he said, parliament could pass a law based on defence concerns that could have prevented the transaction occurring. Panamax sized ships of a maximum length of 274 metres and a DWT of up to 80,000 tonnes are able to use the location. ABC News, March 12, 2019, ABC News, Chinese company Landbridge to operate Darwin port under $506m 99-year lease deal, October 13, 2015, Helen Davidson, Chinese company secures 99-year lease of Darwin port in $506m deal, The Guardian, October 13, 2015, Katherine Murphy, Malcolm Turnbull shrugs off US concern over Darwin port lease to Chinese firm | Australian politics, November 19, 2015, Anthony Galloway, Port of Darwin's Chinese ownership under review by Department of Defence, The Age/Sydney Morning Herald, May 2, 2021, Joe Kelly, Defence ticks Chinese lease of Darwin Port, The Australian, December 28, 2021, Andrew Greene, China's grip on Darwin Port looks shaky as Australia grapples with regional security changes, ABC News, May 4, 2021, Francis Keany, Port of Darwin: Malcolm Turnbull plays down Barack Obama's concerns over lease to Chinese company, ABC News, November 19, 2015, Tom Lowrey, Federal Government asks for advice on controversial Darwin port lease to China, ABC News, May 3, 2021, Andrew Tillett, Port of Darwin's Chinese owner suffers double blow, AFR, July 5, 2021, Primrose Riordan, Dennis Richardson regrets 'oversight' on Darwin port lease, AFR, December 15, 2015, Susan McDonald, Matthew Doran, Andrew Greene, Port of Darwin: Concerns about lease to Chinese company 'alarmist' and 'absurd', says Defence Secretary Dennis Richardson, ABC News, December 15, 2015, Helen Davidson, Darwin port deal with Chinese group poses no threat, says defence official, The Guardian, December 15, 2015, Eliza Borrello, Andrew Robb blames former Coalition leaders for toxic' relationship with China, ABC Radio AM, March 12, 2019, Gabrielle Chan, Foreign investment: Joyce says Robb has questions to answer on Landbridge role, The Guardian, June 7, 2017, Paul Kelly, Darwin Port a test for China policy, The Australian, May 8, 2021, Brendan Nicholson, Final say for ADF in China port lease in Darwin, The Australian, November 18, 2015, Peter Jennings, Darwin: storm in a port, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, November 6, 2015, Peter Jennings, Time to end China's lease on the Port of Darwin, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, May 4, 2021, Geoff Wade, Landbridge, Darwin and the PRC, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, November 9, 2015, Luke Gosling, Port of Darwin Review Welcome, But Tread With Care Australian Institute of International Affairs, May 13, 2021, David Moore and Melissa Lai, All foreign investors now need FIRB clearance to acquire critical state-owned infrastructure, Minter Ellison, March 17, 2016, Foreign Investment Review Board, Annual Report 2015-16, Senate Economics References Committee, Foreign investment review framework, Final report April 8, 2016, Senate Economic References Committee, Public hearings: 15 December, 2015; 10 March, 2016, Senate Economic References Committee, Submissions received from the Treasury, Department of Defence, Attorney-General's Department and Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation, Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975, Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulations 1975, Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018, Department of Home Affairs, Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Systems of National Significance, US military asset to be linked to controversial Port of Darwin via fuel pipeline, All parties should heed ASIO warning against national security weaponisation, Liberal senator says, China behind foiled attempt to bankroll federal election candidates, Rare sighting of bird 'like Beyonce, Prince and Elvis all turning up at once', 'What else is down there?' Tickets with an asterisk (*) are classed as restricted view . Was Northern Territory governed by South Australia? The Northern Territory government's deal in 2015 to sell a long-term lease to the Port of Darwin to Chinese firm Landbridge Group has been criticized by security experts. Two words showed something was wrong with the system, When Daniel picked up a dropped box on a busy road, he had no idea it would lead to the 'best present ever', Plans to redevelop 'eyesore' on prime riverside land fall apart as billionaires exit, After centuries of Murdaugh rule in the Deep South, the family's power ends with a life sentence for murder, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies aged 61, 'Heartbroken': Matildas midfielder suffers serious injury ahead of World Cup. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? (ABC News: Michael Franchi) The Port of Melbourne is located on the mouth of the Yarra River, Victoria, Australia.. It specifically recognised defence emergencies under the Defence Act.". Sino Gold, mining, main business is the mining of gold in China. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "If [Landbridge's] offer was the best offer, but it introduced a major element of strategic risk for the whole country, they should have had the common sense to realise they take the second best offer or the third best offer and not have any strategic risk," he said. . sprague creek campground reservations June 24, 2022. ovc professional development scholarship program. The NT government considered the port a vital part of the region's future economic growth, but its infrastructure was in a state of disrepair, according to Dave Tollner, who was treasurer at the time. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 4 Which Australian wineries are Chinese owned? what happened to the parents in dear zachary? How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? You can submit your questions on any topic at all, or vote on our next investigation. Twice, he fielded responses indicating no concerns about potential risks to national security, so he asked for the agencies to review it a third time "at the highest possible level". 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We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A range of options for the future of the port, which was sold to Chinese government-owned Landbridge group in 2015 for $506 million, have been canvassed in recent months. After reaching land, the captain and his lieutenant named the port 'Darwin' after their former shipmate Charles Darwin. Why don't more Australians know about the bombing of Darwin? A couple of questions have been raised over how the deal was executed. ", It should be noted that at least one minister in the federal government warmly welcomed the Landbridge deal when it was announced. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was chided by US President Barack Obama went they met in Manila last month for not consulting him over the deal. In October 2015, the Northern Territory government, led by the Country Liberal Party, solda 99-year leaseover land and operations of the Port of Darwin for $506 million toLandbridge Group, the Australian subsidiary of a Shandong-based energy and infrastructure group owned byChinese billionaire Ye Cheng. The trio had met when Darwin took a five-year voyage around the globe, observing geology around the world. [6] Shandong Landbridge Group is a privately held company with headquarters in the city of Rizhao, Shandong Province, China, which is owned by Ye Cheng, a billionaire with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Is paralegal higher than legal assistant? "You may well find that future generations of Australians reading Australian history books will have the most scathing judgments about the idiocy of the decision-making. More recently, Mr Turnbull took a different view. But despite its independent spirit, the NT was once part of South Australia before being administered by the Federal Government, and has never been fully free to make binding laws for its people. The second part, the sale of the port operator, fell under regulations accompanying the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeover Act 1975 that deemed that if the value of a company was less than $252 million, no FIRB review was required. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Francheska Gobel Executive Officer - Strategic Projects | Local Government, N.T. Unlike the Port of Darwin experience, NSW's lease or privatisation of Transgrid should be an open and considered process rather than a graceless race for cash. -- Dig deeper into the neighbours -- See house median prices & other properties you may like in HUMPTY DOO Check property & price now! Thanks to Honey for sponsoring our adventure!! The incumbent centre-left Labor Party (ALP) majority government, led by Chief Minister Michael Gunner, won a second consecutive four-year term of government. May 3 (UPI) -- Australia could be footing the bill for the Port of Darwin if the government cancels a 99-year lease to the port, which is under the ownership of a Chinese billionaire. Flagstaff managing partner David Potaznik was hired shortly after the deal was finalised by Landbridge Group to sell a 20 per cent stake that needed to remain in Australian hands. You have corrected this article This article has been corrected by You and other Voluntroves This article has been corrected by Voluntroves $ Close Captcha. The NT government leased the Darwin Port to Chinese company Landbridge in 2015 Scott Morrison agreed to provide $19.5 million as a privatisation incentive payment six months later Labor says the then treasurer should have done more to prevent the lease, but he says it was not a federal responsibly The Port Augusta Dispatch, Newcastle and Flinders Chronicle (SA : 1885 - 1916), Fri 5 Feb 1892, Page 2 - The Rev. "That's a long way of saying, if the defence/military found a valid reason that the Port of Darwin [deal] was contrary to our defence interests, then parliament could make a law preventing such a transaction occurring or giving a power to the Commonwealth government to be able to take action.". Said every sysadmin ever. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/fact-check-scott-morrison-port-of-darwin-china-landbridge/100888740, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Listen to the news in Warlpiri, Yolngu Matha and Kriol, 'We have got the balance right': PM gives Greens' super demands short shrift, Four in hospital after terrifying home invasion by gang armed with machetes, knives, hammer, Australia's biggest drug bust: $1 billion worth of cocaine linked to Mexican cartel intercepted, 'How dare they': Possum Magic author hits out at 'ridiculous' Roald Dahl edits, Crowd laughs as Russia's foreign minister claims Ukraine war 'was launched against us', The tense, 10-minute meeting that left Russia's chief diplomat smoking outside in the blazing sun, 'Celebrity leaders': Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley take veiled jabs at Donald Trump in CPAC remarks, Hong Kong court convicts three members of Tiananmen vigil group for security offence, as publisher behind Xi biography released, Vanuatu hit by two cyclones and twin earthquakes in two days, links to the People's Liberation Army of China, accepted a job as an adviser to Langbridge, Stephen Kirchner of the United States Studies Centre, Peter Jennings, the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Scott Morrison, Transcript of press conference, Darwin, NT, 18 February, 2022, Fleur Anderson, It's on Defence's head: FIRB chairman on Darwin Port, Australian Financial Review, March 11, 2016, Christopher Walsh, How and why did the Northern Territory lease the Darwin Port to China, and at what risk? The catchment of Darwin Harbour occupies a total area of approximately 3,230 square kilometres (1,247 sq mi), of this 2,010 square kilometres (776 sq mi) is land based and the other 1,220 square kilometres (471 sq mi) are estuarine areas at the high water mark. Such a move would have required the government to have a "valid reason" for seeking to override the deal a reason that would stand up if challenged in the High Court of Australia. The Government is formed by the party or grouping having the majority of the seats in the House of Assembly, or by a coalition (the combination of parties to form a majority). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its billionaire owner Ye Cheng had been named by the Chinese Government in 2013 as one of the top 10 "individuals caring about the development of national defence" and the company was later found to have extensive links to the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Australia Pacific LNG, Queensland, Australia. The $506m deal, resulting from a tender process begun in 2014, gives the Landbridge Group 100% operational control of the port and 80% ownership of the Darwin port land, facilities of East Arm . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. "You don't farm out the risk to everyone in Australia over 99 years to save you some money in the early 20-teens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed a review of the lease of the Port of Darwin will be undertaken, raising fresh questions over the future of the 99-year lease by Chinese-owned company Landbridge. Dredging crews uncover waste in seemingly clear waterways, Emily was studying law when she had to go to court. log in. In the intervening years, the government hasamended the regulationsgoverning FIRB decisions to ensure sales of assets by states and territories are no longer entirely exempted from scrutiny. Who Sold port of Darwin to China? In 2012, the Country Liberal Party long viewed by itself as the "natural ruling party of the Territory" was brought back to power after 11 years in the wilderness, and while no gauge of public opinion was taken, decided all public assets were up for grabs. Stephen Kirchner of the United States Studies Centresays Mr Morrison's claim is "technically correct and technically incorrect". Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. which government sold the port of darwin. Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have stakes in 16 terminals in 13 different European ports, which represented, in 2019, a cargo volume of around 11 million standard containers (defined as TEUs: twenty-foot equivalent units, Figure 1). Corporate author : International Scientific Committee for the drafting of a General History of Africa Person as author : Ki-Zerbo, Joseph [editor] "A strong objection from the feds would probably have sufficed, but that was not forthcoming at the time," Dr Kirchner says. Palmerston Town Council took office on 29 June . What does a Grade 3 heart murmur mean in cats? Fact Check made in partnership with RMIT University, IFCN Fact-Checkers' Code of Principles Signatory. The NT Land Development Corporation has identified available land at Darwin's East Arm port industrial estate, where both the US strategic fuel reserve facility and a new diesel storage facility could be constructed. The Port of Darwin's 99-year lease with Chinese company Landbridge attracted criticism since 2015. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The rules were ultimately changed to not let this happen again. The Port of Piraeus is majority owned by China COSCO Shipping (the successor of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO)), the 3rd largest container ship company in the world. One expert told Fact Check that if defence and other agencies had expressed serious concerns about a potential risk to national securityparliament could have passed legislation specifically dealing with that issue. The $506 million transaction vested a 99-year lease to Landbridge, the Australian subsidiary of a privately-owned Chinese company which is reported to havelinks to the People's Liberation Army of China. But the $506 million question Australians want answered now is why did the Northern Territory Government do it and how did they get away with it? The Port of Melbourne Group is owned by a consortium of shareholders with local and global expertise in delivering world-class port and infrastructure facilities and services.