Darwin port: Malcolm Turnbull mocks Clive Palmer over China relationship

Clive Palmer questioned Malcolm Turnbull over Chinese control of the Port of Darwin. Watch his response.

Malcolm Turnbull has mocked Clive Palmer’s “love affair” with China, remembering the “halcyon days” when the Palmer United Party leader was the country’s top friend and “Chinese prince”.

Mr Palmer has expressed fears about a Chinese government invasion in the Top End following evidence of links between the operator of the Port of Darwin, Landbridge Group, and the People’s Liberation Army.

He used Question Time today to ask the Prime Minister if Australian ports should be “controlled by the Chinese Communist Party”.

“If the Chinese government controls ports, they control our economy, they decide what’s exported and manipulate prices and port charges,” Mr Palmer said.

“Will the Australian government exercise its power to resume these ports for Australia’s national economic security?”

A clearly amused Mr Turnbull assured Mr Palmer that the Department of Defence had repeatedly stated it didn’t have “any security or access concerns” with the 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Palmer’s “love affair” with the Asian nation had clearly “come to an end”.

The businessman, who has had long running legal disputes with Chinese business partners, has had a volatile relationship with China and sparked outrage domestically and abroad last year when he launched an extraordinary attack against Chinese “mongrels” and “bastards”.

“I remember the halcyon days when he was one of the leading friends of China. He was a Chinese prince,” Mr Turnbull remarked.

“I remember when the honourable member was going to build a sort of new version of the Titanic in China. Those were halcyon days but sadly many love affairs come to an end.”

The comments come after Mr Palmer earlier cancelled a press conference to discuss the sale of Australian ports to Chinese government companies because he was “unwell”.

The cancelled press conference followed revelations in The Australian that Mr Palmer’s lawyer told a court his businesses are facing a “drop-dead date” within days, as the MP intensifies legal pressure to win a quick cash injection from his Chinese adversaries.

PUP leader Clive Palmer asks the Prime Minister about Chinese control of the Port of Darwin in Question Time today.