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Australia stands ready to take back two key ports from Chinese investors if any security concerns are raised, Scott Morrison said.
The Port of Newcastle, the world s biggest coal port, was handed over to a Chinese-backed consortium for 98 years for $1.75 billion when Mike Baird was NSW Premier in 2014.
And Darwin Port is run by Chinese company Landbridge Group, which secured a 99-year lease from the Northern Territory government in 2015 for just $506 million.
In November 2015, the Northern Territory government decided to lease the Port of Darwin (pictured) to a Chinese company for 99 years
Pressure is mounting on the federal government to take back key infrastructure from Chinese control as relations with Beijing hit a new low.
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Federal government needs to go back to grassroots and fix the ADF s issues29/04/2021|4min
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie says the $747 million upgrade for Northern Territory defence training is “wonderful” but the government needs to address the issues in the military first.
“We are having big problems in our military, we are having massive amounts of discharges going through at the moment with those men and women who have been in the Middle East and all that expertise is going out the door,” she told Sky News.
“We need a lot more boots on the ground and quite frankly I don’t give a stuff (if) we start talking about national or a national guard but we need to do something.”
Mike Pezzullo s drums of war comment was embarrassing : Lambie29/04/2021|8min
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie says Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo’s drums of war comments got leaked because “that is exactly what he wanted it to do”.
“He should never have given that interview to start with he’s getting way too big for his own boots and he needs to be pulled back behind the line that’s for sure,” she told Sky News.
Ms Lambie said if he was going to make those remarks he should “make sure you are prepared to take action” and said it showed cowardice on the minister’s behalf.
Pressure is mounting on the federal government to take back key national assets from Chinese control amid fears the communist superpower could disrupt our crucial infrastructure using advanced cyber attacks.
Two of Australia s most important harbours - Darwin Port and the Port of Newcastle - were leased to Chinese companies as state governments cashed in on lucrative private investment.
The Port of Newcastle, the world s biggest coal port, was handed over to a Chinese-backed consortium for 98 years for $1.75 billion when Mike Baird was NSW Premier in 2014.
The decision means the port is half controlled by Aussie company Gardior and half by China Merchants Port Holdings Company until 2112.