Port of Darwin: This is about more than China's economic interest

[jhungary]

As PDFers, we are just killing time here, it's entertaining to read about that Guardian reports on Turnbull asking US officials to subscribe NT news, real funny, Turnbull rocks my man!

But it's turns out Turnbull is the one that don't know what the deal were.....

Well, he is cool, but on that scale, not as cool as abbotts tho.

No doubt on this line bro, it's a true statement, powerful!
Though officials from a 3rd country may add a few words ".... but nothing above our military interests"

As I said, nobody here actually care about the deal if the NT government were not that fishy. We should leave the Australian Government do what they should do, well, I don't know about you but that's where my tax money gone, I need them to do their job....

Actually, the US could, as we have defence agreement with them and they have right to access any bases within Australia as per ANZUS treaty, they would be mad if the Aussie rent those military structure to the Chinese again. I mean, I would if you rent my house to me, then you proceed to rent my house again to someone else...I would have said something.

 

[Shotgunner51]

But it's turns out Turnbull is the one that don't know what the deal were.....

Well, he is cool, but on that scale, not as cool as abbotts tho.

As I said, nobody here actually care about the deal if the NT government were not that fishy. We should leave the Australian Government do what they should do, well, I don't know about you but that's where my tax money gone, I need them to do their job....

Actually, the US could, as we have defence agreement with them and they have right to access any bases within Australia as per ANZUS treaty, they would be mad if the Aussie rent those military structure to the Chinese again. I mean, I would if you rent my house to me, then you proceed to rent my house again to someone else...I would have said something.

Of course it's up to the Australian, NT or Fed or Turnbull or whatever, to decide whether to take the Landbridge offer or leave it. They are supposed to fight for Australian interests, not concerns of foreign country, especially if those concerns are base-less paranoia.

Off topic: Speaking of Australian interests, do you have equal rights of access to any bases within US as per ANZUS treaty?

 

[jhungary]

Of course it's up to the Australian, NT or Fed or Turnbull or whatever, to decide whether to take the Landbridge offer or leave it. They are supposed to fight for Australian interests, not concerns of foreign country, especially if those concerns are base-less paranoia.

Off topic: Speaking of Australian interests, do you have equal rights of access to any bases within US as per ANZUS treaty?

Well, not many actually care about the Chinese side of the equation, or the US side, most just about how the NT government did. Well, honestly, people in Australia care a lot about how the government lied to them then foreign relation...

And about ANZUS treaty, one of the condition for the treaty is visiting right. Where three sides all agree to let their treaty partner navy to visit without authorisation. That is the reason why NZ was suspended the treaty in 1991 because the NZ require to allow port call for any US ship but NZ have a non-nuclear policy meaning ships carrying nuclear missile or were nuclear powered were not allow in NZ soil. That's create a problem for the US and hence the treaty was suspended in 1991, however NZ have preliminary reinstate the treaty in 2007

 

[Zsari]

There will be environmental factor, disturbance factor, safety and also other factor (I cannot think of at the moment) that will impact the port and/or surrounding area.

As part of city planning, any proposal to renovate have to be approved by local government. It does not relate to how much efficiency can be increase by renovating the port.

So, no, it is not the whole point.

From what I read from the news, to upgrade the facility without incurring cost is the main reason for leasing out the port. Beyond that, Australian government is said to look forward in privatizing the port, so it will likely be up for sale.

 

[Jlaw]

If port Darwin lies in South Australia, the chinese would never get the okay. our Viet people there will throw the proposal into the next trash bin. because HIEU Van Le is the Governor of Southern Australia.

Former refugee Hieu Van Le sworn in as South Australia's governor during official ceremony - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Guess China will not need to worry. This is a case what Chinese people call 廢話.

It's the same as you saying , "If I, Viet could ever become master of the world I will execute all Chinese"

 

[jhungary]

From what I read from the news, to upgrade the facility without incurring cost is the main reason for leasing out the port. Beyond that, Australian government is said to look forward in privatizing the port, so it will likely be up for sale.

It's actually not that, the port were relatively new (compare to other more important port such as Newcastle or Fremantle) and any upgrade would still need to be done and pay for with tax dollars, as the Port of Darwin is still state own business. The renting out is simply a business move for Australia government, just this time the buyer of the lease is China, and NT Government did not pass the deal to FIRB.

If I remember correctly, the lease of Darwin Port including a clause, which 20% of the operational lease must be resale to Australian Company within 5 years. This move is purely commercial.

And no, NT does not have a plan to privatize the port, otherwise they would not have lease it for 99 years. If there are any privatization to be done, it would have to wait for the port to finish its lease a century later. I would say leasing out the port for 99 years is the opposite of the intention of privatize the port.

@Shotgunner51

Just to show you had the deal pass thru FIRB, we won't have this problem in the first place.

IAN KIRKWOOD: A pattern is emerging | Newcastle Herald

China Merchants acquired a 98 years lease for the Port of Newcastle last year, the world's largest Coal export port for 1.7 Billions.

Although China Merchants is linked to the Chinese Government, the deal was done properly which include partnering up with Australian Company (Hasting Holding) and there are some critic about the deal, but largely gone unheard of compare to the smaller deal on Port of Darwin.

As I said many time, this deal is fishy because of the way NT Government did things, not because of the Chinese involvement.

 

[TaiShang]

As PDFers, we are just killing time here, it's entertaining to read about that Guardian reports on Turnbull asking US officials to subscribe NT news, real funny, Turnbull rocks my man!

No doubt on this line bro, it's a true statement, powerful!
Though officials from a 3rd country may add a few words ".... but nothing above our military interests"

For me, often times, inter-US alliance relations is entertaining to watch.

They have a dedicated internet army.


As for this deal, let sound minded Australian politicians do the lecturing of US officials for us.