A Chinese company’s lease at the Port of Darwin will not be terminated after a federal government investigation found there was ‘no need’ to do so.
The review, conducted by the Department of the Prime Minister’s Office, found that “robust” regulatory systems were in place to manage any risks to critical infrastructure and that monitoring mechanisms were “sufficient”.
“As a result, there was no need to modify or terminate the lease,” the department said in a statement.
“Australians can rest assured that their security will not be compromised, while ensuring Australia remains a competitive destination for foreign investment.
“The review took into consideration the findings and outcomes of these previous assessments, as well as whether risk management and mitigation arrangements are sufficient to protect Australia’s national security interests in relation to the port.”
A federal government investigation found there was ‘no need’ to cancel a 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company
The federal government has accepted the advice of the department investigation.
Chinese company Landbridge signed a 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in the Northern Territory in 2015 for more than $500 million.
The lease attracted controversy over fears of a national security risk.
The review was initiated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after last year’s federal elections.
An earlier defense review, conducted under the former Liberal government and handed over to then Defense Minister Peter Dutton, found there were no national security reasons to cancel the lease.
A Chinese company’s lease at the Port of Darwin will not be terminated following a federal government review