Latest news with #NorthernAustralian
Sky News AU
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must reverse 'terrible mistake', take Darwin Port out of Chinese hands, defence expert says
Executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Peter Jennings, has declared Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must reverse the "terrible mistake" of leasing the Port of Darwin to Chinese company Landbridge. The Northern Territory's then Country Liberal Party government agreed to a controversial $506 million deal with the company in 2015, handing Landbridge a 99-year lease on the major port. Despite the agreement failing to raise alarm from defence and security officials at the time, and falling short of requirements to be investigated by the Foreign Investment Review Board, the company's ownership and the port's strategic location have continued to prompt criticism of the deal. Prior to the federal election, both the Coalition and Labor pledged to tear up the controversial lease, with reports subsequently emerging United States firm Cerberus Capital Management was preparing to launch a take-over bid. Speaking to Sky News Australia, Mr Jennings called on the government to back the proposed bid, arguing it was time for Mr Albanese to show he was prepared to stand up to China. "My view is that Anthony Albanese has got a golden opportunity here because for the first time there is a company with a serious interest in wanting to take over the port facility," he said. "Cerberus, I think, has an interest in Northern Australian infrastructure with a mind towards defence and security. If they're interested, I think the Prime Minister should say hallelujah. "This is a great opportunity to reverse a terrible mistake (and) for him to claim a political victory, and to actually turn the port to the uses that it needs to address - which is more Australian Army vessels that will have to be based there in coming years, plus a greater interest from our allies." Since coming into office in 2022, Labor has repeatedly sought to play up the "normalisation" of Australia's relationship with China. However, major trade wins and the resumption of regular high-level diplomatic meetings have been overshadowed by Chinese military actions which have harmed or risked the safety of Australian personnel. Mr Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have all sought to downplay those incidents, while using the mantra of "cooperate where we can, disagree where we must" to explain the government's handling of the relationship. Mr Jennings suggested the issue of the Port of Darwin's lease was one such occasion where Australia and China must disagree, as he called upon the Prime Minister to follow through on his election pledge. "This is a case where, I think, Albanese has got to show that he is prepared to push back. He keeps saying that he will do it where it's necessary," the defence expert said. "The Prime Minister went on record. He chose to do that during the election campaign, he's made a promise. I think he's got to live up to that for his own political reputation and also for Australia's national security."
Sky News AU
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Golden opportunity': US-based group interested in purchasing Darwin Port lease
Strategic Analysis Australia Peter Jennings discusses interest from US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management in buying the lease of the Port of Darwin from the Chinese-owned company Landbridge Group. 'I think Albanese has a golden opportunity here because, for the first time, there is a company with a serious interest in wanting to take over the port facility,' Mr Jennings told Sky News host Peta Credlin. 'Cerberus, I think, has an interest in Northern Australian infrastructure with a mind towards defence and security.'
