• US Seaman Jeremiah Baker throws a messenger line from amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard to Fort Wharf pier in preparation of a scheduled port visit to Darwin.Credit: Petty Officer 3rd Class MICHAEL ACHTERLING [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
    US Seaman Jeremiah Baker throws a messenger line from amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard to Fort Wharf pier in preparation of a scheduled port visit to Darwin.Credit: Petty Officer 3rd Class MICHAEL ACHTERLING [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
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Senior ADF officials are concerned by news the NT Government has signed a $506 million 99-year lease for use of the Port of Darwin 
to a Chinese owned company.
 
The deal gives the Landbridge Group an 80 per cent share of a lease of the port and facilities of East Arm Wharf, including the Darwin Marine Supply Base, and Fort Hill. The remaining 20 per cent of the lease would be Australian owned.
 
The ABC has spoken to a senior ADF official who said there were concerns about the security implications of a Chinese company owning a mounting port for major operations.
 
Darwin is currently home to HMAS Coonawarra, a naval communications station and fleet support base for the Armidale class patrol boats. The port is also a regular host for major naval exercises taking place in northern waters. The Coonawarra wharf facility is separate to the current port wharf infrastructure, however larger naval ships often berth at the commercial wharf.
 
Landbridge is owned by Chinese billionaire Ye Cheng and operates a large port in Shandong province in China. It has interests in port logistics, petrochemicals, international trading and real estate development and, according to the AusTrade website, employs more than 7,000 people.
 
NT Chief Minister Adam Giles hailed the deal as "a fantastic outcome for the Territory".
 
As reported in the AFR, Landbridge has committed to invest $200 million on growth over the next 25 years, with $35 million of that to be spent before 2020. According to the AFR, Giles saw Landbridge as attractive because it will invest in capacity ahead of the demand curve. Landbridge would begin by expanding the port's capacity to ship refridgerated containers and was keen to develop cattle, minerals and petroleum exports with tourism offering an inbound potential.
 
"Landbridge intends to grow two-way trade between Australia and Asia, leveraging Landbridge's existing port and logistics businesses and firmly putting Darwin on the map for Chinese business," Landbridge's Mike Hughes told the ABC.
 
The NT opposition has criticised the "land grab" deal while unions have indicated that it was "shrouded in secrecy".
 
 
 
 
 
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