KENNEDY MP, Bob Katter, is calling on the Federal Government to force the Chinese-owned company, Landbridge, to immediately divest and hand back its ownership of the Darwin Port.

Landbridge Group signed a 99-year lease for the Darwin Port in 2015, with the Northern Territory’s then Country Liberal party Government.[1]

Now, the Department of Defence has reportedly handed down its advice to the LNP Federal Government on the security risks at the Port, and a decision sits with the Government.[2]

Mr Katter said the Government’s next move was a critical one and would be watched closely and judged ruthlessly by all patriotic Australians.

The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MP says the only option is to force Landbridge to divest its ownership of the Darwin Port on national security grounds, under critical infrastructure laws passed in 2018.

“Every Australian demands of the Federal Government that strategic assets stay in the hands of Australians,” he said.

“The Darwin Port is our most strategic asset. It’s the only serious port in northern Australia. We should remember that a large portion of the world’s population lives in the northern hemisphere.

“What sort of country allows its front door to be owned by a foreign interest? Especially a foreign interest that has been actively and ruthlessly acting against our interest with trade sanctions.

“Where did the Japanese attack in the last war? Darwin. They bombed the hell out of it softening it up for invasion. Some 17 towns in northern Australia were bombed in World War II.

“People think that invasion is a million miles away, well that’s exactly what the Australian parliament thought and said in 1939. Even in 1941, they were still saying it. Whereas Japan had already drawn up the plan to takeover Australia.”