‘Not for sale’: But Albanese doesn’t rule out action on Landbridge Darwin port lease

Anthony Albanese has left the door open for a federal deal that would see the buy out of Darwin Port from Landbridge. See what Landbridge has to say about it.

Anthony Albanese has left the door open for a federal purchase of Darwin Port from Landbridge.

However the Chinese owned company says: “the port is not for sale”.

Speculation around the port’s future has started to swirl with local federal member Luke Gosling – a longtime critic of the current port lease – ramping up calls for it to be returned to Australian hands.

Mr Gosling has proposed a public-private partnership using federal funding to retake the port.

The Prime Minister did not shut down the possibility when asked at a press conference on Tuesday, saying Labor “wouldn’t have sold it in the first place”.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said Port of Darwin was an important national asset. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“I was on the record at the time as the Shadow Infrastructure Minister opposing what is clearly a national asset,” Mr Albanese said.

“It’s our most important port in northern Australia, and if you look at the globe, you don’t have to think very strongly about what areas are most important for the defence of Australia.”

However Landbridge has delivered a blunt message that the port is not on the market.

Non-executive director Terry O’Connor said the NT government’s announcement today that it wanted the Albanese government to put money on the table to buyout the lease was a surprise.

“The Minister’s announcement today has come as a surprise and I can confirm that Landbridge and Darwin Port have not been involved in any discussions on the matter,” non-executive director Terry O’Connor said.

“As previously stated, and confirmed by our owner today, the port is not for sale.

“Landbridge considers the port a long-term investment that has reported record operational performance this year.

“We expect this growth to continue in the future. We will await engagement from the Northern Territory government.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Treasurer Bill Yan have called on the federal government to end the uncertainty about the future of Landbridge’s Port of Darwin lease. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

On Tuesday the Chief Minister attempted to frame a longstanding meeting this Thursday in Canberra as a response to Mr Gosling’s commentary around the port, accusing him of causing “mass uncertainty” and calling on the federal government to clarify its intentions.

The original topic for discussion by the delegate from the NT Department of Infrastructure and Logistics to Canberra was Landbridge’s ongoing solvency issues.

“We need the Albanese government to come forward and explain what those next steps look like, because what this has created is mass uncertainty at a time when what we’re trying to do is deliver action, certainty and security for economic growth here in the Northern Territory,” Chief Minister Finocchiaro said.

Ms Finocchiaro stopped short of stating a position on whether or not the port should be sold.

Chinese owned Landbridge has faced financial troubles since it signed a 99 year lease in 2015. Picture: Floss Adams

Serious concerns around Landbridge’s solvency were raised late last year after the company posted a $34m loss in the 2024 financial year.

Landbridge Infrastructure Australia has not made a profit since 2015, when it signed a 99-year lease with the then Country Liberal NT government to operate the port.

Originally published as ‘Not for sale’: But Albanese doesn’t rule out action on Landbridge Darwin port lease