- The Strategist - https://www.aspistrategist.org.au -
Darwin: storm in a port
Posted By Peter Jennings on November 6, 2015 @ 11:00
Senator Payne: As part of the bilateral engagement during AUSMIN … we have reinforced our very strong agreement to pursue enhanced naval cooperation. That will include additional combined training and exercises between our two navies. The capacity for combined activities and interoperability is very important to both of us. … It is our view that the closer and earlier the discussions with the United States as part of that process, the more effective our interoperability can be.
With Darwin, Defence does not have any security concerns about the sale of the port to Chinese interests. I note that it is a commercial port; it is not a naval base. The Northern Territory government first broached the possibility of the privatisation of the port in early 2014. …
Senator Xenophon: So it does have a strategic role?
Mr Richardson: Our interest in a commercial port is access to the port and its facilities. The deed of licence, which we signed in May of this year, provided us with the access to the port of Darwin that we wanted. When we were subsequently advised that the sale was to Chinese interests, we examined the possible security implications. Within Defence, that involved the three services. It involved the Australian Signals Directorate, the Defence security agency and the strategic policy area of Defence. No part of Defence had a concern from a security perspective in respect of the sale. The Navy's interest was overwhelmingly the question of access, not the question of ownership, given that it is a commercial port, not a navy base.
Mr Richardson: No, we did not consult the United States. We did not see a need to, because their arrangements in terms of access to a commercial port remain unchanged. They pay for their access now and they will pay for their access in the future. …
Senator Peris: Are you saying there was no consultation done with the US Navy?
Mr Richardson: No.
Senator Peris: So you do not have any concerns about cooperation with the US forces in Darwin as a result?
Mr Richardson: If the US has any questions about the sale of the port then the US can raise them with us.
Mr Richardson: We can only look at this in terms of our interests. Does it raise national security concerns for us as a department? It does not. If other people have other issues about foreign ownership of whatever, that is not an issue that concerns us unless it impinges on our interests and responsibilities.
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[1] Image: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/10117918845_d20e47d2a5_z.jpg
[2] 99-year lease: http://www.chiefminister.nt.gov.au/media-releases/nt-government-selects-landbridge-its-partner-port-darwin
[3] Estimates: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/estimate/6662254f-7408-419c-b81e-4a2e7981ccea/toc_pdf/Foreign%20Affairs,%20Defence%20and%20Trade%20Legislation%20Committee_2015_10_21_3923.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22committees/estimate/6662254f-7408-419c-b81e-4a2e7981ccea/0000%22.
[4] reported: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-03/defence-chief-warns-against-privatising-housing/6907980