By Leith van Onselen. Landbridge head Ye Cheng, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and then trade envoy Andrew Robb in Beijing in April 2016. This story is part two in our look at the port as part of Curious Darwin, our story series where you ask us the questions, vote for your favourite, and we investigate. He is the co-author of The Great Crash of 2008 with Ross Garnaut and was the editor of the second Garnaut Climate Change Review. Andrew Robb takes role with Chinese company that operates Darwin port Read more Brandis on Wednesday tried to assuage Robb, saying his former colleague needn't be concerned about the crackdown. The strategic risk can be managed, Mr James added, but never completely eliminated, and managing it will cost the Government. As the federal trade minister, Mr Robb did publicly support the Darwin Port deal, calling it a "powerful sign" of a commercial partnership between China and Australia through a free trade agreement he had helped establish. Thank you for your very kind wishes! Andrew Robb did not breach code of conduct by taking $880k - ABC Chinese-owned Darwin Port struggling to pay back debts Mr Katter's opposition to the Port of Darwin sale - Former "stooge of China" gives nod to Darwin Port seizure Former trade minister Andrew Robb AO has told delegates at Red Meat that Asia and, in particular China, is where Australia must focus for future red meat export opportunities. Glenn Campbell. And all of it is being done under the guise of economic development at a time of economic turbulence for those countries, Dr Garrick said, which sounds familiar to Darwin, where the NT Government is currently going through a fiscal crisis and severe economic downturn. Andrew Robb, federal minister for trade and investment said . Follow our live coverage. Then trade minister Andrew Robb is congratulated after he concluded the second reading debate on the China - Australia Free Trade Agreement in 2015. controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. It is backed by the Communist Party-controlled Rizhao City Government in partnership with Mr Ye. Listen to the news in Warlpiri, Yolngu Matha and Kriol, Jock Zonfrillo, celebrated chef and judge on MasterChef Australia, dies aged 46, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo remembered for 'wicked sense of humour', Lauren Cranston jailed for eight years over one of Australia's biggest tax frauds, Tony Abbott mounts attack on Voice after a spat with parliamentary committee, 'They will forever know their dad was a hero': 1,000 mourners farewell slain NSW paramedic, Nurse driving home from shift among victims of triple-fatal crash involving allegedly stolen car, There are 11 First Nations MPs and senators. Robb was on the payroll of Landbridge before he resigned as an MP. "In our situation, there was an upfront payment for 99 years and then the strategy unfolds," he said. Andrew Robb says said Canberra had every right to reassess the port lease in light of changing strategic circumstances. The company knows how to cultivate political connections. His time in this portfolio was marked by introducing a Citizenship discussion paper which encouraged public debate about whether Australia required a formal citizenship test. Back then it was criticised over national security implications, and drew a rebuke from former US president Barack Obama. The irony is that while at a political level our relationship is facing some difficulties, at a commercial level our relationship has never been better. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Dr Garrick said it was interesting to observe China's recent engagement in poor Pacific Island nations over the past few years, where the Asian economic superpower has developed a type of "blueprint" for strategic positioning. Robb announced his retirement from politics on 10 February 2016. FORMER trade minister Andrew Robb has become a "high-level economic consultant" with Landbridge, the Chinese company that operates Darwin Port . In this capacity Robb worked with the next Leader of the Liberal Party, John Hewson, in the unsuccessful 1993 federal election campaign. "The proposal has been fully recognised and highly affirmed by the Shandong Province Party Committee, the Provincial Government and the Department of Commerce," the Chinese government statement said. Landbridge says if it happens then itll spike sovereign risk. A companydocument revealed that the consulting contract was so vague and ill-defined he would be paid even if he did nothing. Darwin port deal is a nice little earner - Australian Financial Review In relation to the Ministerial Standards, Scott Ryan, the Minister Assisting the Cabinet Secretary, reiterated the rules for former frontbenchers. Landbridge confirmed Mr Robbs departure. Weaknesses in Australian governments at all levels have been revealed. "Debate and transparency and honesty about things is not bad. Secondly, it's not 'we' this is in of those 'gotcha' questions should be asking PM Morrison. Darwin Port lease to Chinese company Landbridge should be - ABC While the leasing of Port of Darwin to Chinese firm Landbridge by the Northern Territory government in 2015 raised national security fears at the time, . Now, in a climate where national security concerns dominate the China relationship, the deal seems like a strange throwback to a simpler time a time when ministers like Andrew Robb and Josh Frydenberg could pose for photos with CCP-aligned Chinese billionaires, and when the relationship with our biggest trading partner was dominated by economic optimism. He is also a member of the national Chinese People's Consultative Committee, an advisory body that President Xi Jinping has directed to "uphold the CPC [Chinese Communist Party] leadership without wavering". [10], Robb is a republican;[11] he is against abortion except where the health and state of the mother are in serious threat.[12]. Mr Carr recently announced he was stepping down as director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, which was founded by controversial billionaire political donor Huang Xiangmo. During that time, she worked on Australia's trade deals with China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, as well as the Trans Pacific Partnership and future free trade agreements with Europe and Indonesia. "There's not enough evidence for them to do that, other than the sense that this is a dumb move, and why would you do this when the money is already gone and 96 years on the lease to go?" There are certain things that have been thousands of years in the making with regard to China, such as saving face.. How Landbridge's purchase of the Darwin Port killed perceived wisdom on Blokes Who Sold Darwin Port To China Still Acting Like They Give A Fuck Mr Ye's interest in the winery is via his brother, Gang Ye. The Northern Territory government has signed a $506m agreement with a Chinese based group for a 99-year lease of the Darwin port, . [9] He was re-elected at the 2010 election and was appointed Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction and retained his position as chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee. Landbridge, a . "In short, we just don't know what might happen over the next 30 years, let alone the next 96, and the port has already been handed away," Mr James said. Lobbyists have until March 1 to register, although government sources have acknowledged that enforcing the scheme may be difficult given the lack of legal precedent surrounding its operation and the likelihood that some potential registrants will argue it does not apply to them. [1] In 2019, Robb left the position, shortly before a new foreign-interference law took effect.[2]. Billionaire Ye Cheng is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. Senior Lecturer, Business Law, Charles Darwin University. Robb only left his position at Landbridge in 2019, shortly before a new foreign-interference law took effect. This is what you need to know, Canberra grassland earless dragon headed for extinction as ACT government updates list of threatened species, Buses, ferries proposed as Hobart stadium transport fix, Live: MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo remembered for 'wicked sense of humour'. Theyll copy it if anything. The was not without its controversy - even before Australia-China relations soured, as Andrew Robb, a former minister for trade, took an $880,000 consultancy position with the Chinese group immediately following his exit from politics in 2016. Dr Garrick said China wouldn't be able to call in debts and assume control of any infrastructure in Darwin, but it was still a model that seemed to be being applied on Australia's northern shore. But the director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Peter Jennings, said the port deal might benefit Beijing's long-term strategic interests, and not necessarily those of Australia. Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James agreed. Do Darwin residents really drink more than other Australians? Become a subscriber to get full access to the website, as well as our premium newsletters. Andrew Robb joins Chinese company with control of Darwin Port