He added that former minister Andrew Robb also took on a lucrative consulting job with . "Debate and transparency and honesty about things is not bad. 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. It would leave our ability to operate in doubt. He described the situation as "reviewable," suggesting he may beginworking for the company again in future. "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?" It invites reflection on the wisdom, three years ago, of the Northern Territory government deciding to lease the Port of Darwin (now known as Darwin Port) to a Chinese company for 99 years and of the federal government going along with it. Cash Because it's for sale! Just as they have many other of Australias pushbacks against China. Billionaire Ye Cheng is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. By all accounts, he wasn't involved with Landbridge in late 2015 when the deal went through, and the federal cabinet was not aware of the deal until hours before then-chief minister Adam Giles announced it publicly in November 2015. [3] Robb was still federal director when internal Liberal party negative polling was leaked to Kerry O'Brien on Lateline in May 1994 who embarrassed John Hewson with it and lead to Hewson's calling a leadership spill where he lost the leadership to Alexander Downer. When those loans come payable and the countries can't cover the debt, China assumes control of those infrastructure assets. RT @TwoEyeHead: Govt to spend $3.8billion beefing up far Northern military assets. [13] He had carriage of final negotiations for the AustraliaKorea Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA), JapanAustralia Economic Partnership Agreement, ChinaAustralia Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership which have concluded by the federal government. This was discounted by some commentators as hyperbole, an attempt to curry favour with the Chinese government. Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. Now not so much. Landbridge Australia reported a loss of A$31 million for the 2017 financial year, with its total borrowings rising to A$463 million. In 2007, Robb was elevated to the Ministry and took on the role as Minister for Vocational and Further Education. "We love yuz all!" Thank you for your very kind wishes! Chinese influence compromises the integrity of our politics, Soft power goes hard: China's economic interest in the Pacific comes with strings attached, The risks of a new Cold War between the US and China are real: here's why. Darwins port is under Chinese control, while thousands of US marines are based in the city, as part of the US Pacific pivot seen by many as an effort to contain Chinas influence in the region. To connect a sign in method the email must match the one on your Crikey account. He was succeeded by Steven Ciobo as Minister of Trade and Investment on 18 February 2016. A Darwinian survival story: Barnaby's northern port is more of a crazy Follow our live coverage. Port Darwin. Citing legal advice, Mr Lee refused to say if he had paid any money for this stake. Clumsiness and indecision do not serve Australian interests well. Robb then left politics and took up a lucrative 'consultancy' gig with Landbridge less than 12 months later, making who knows how much from helping actual jeopardise our national security. 'A seriously dumb idea': Why did the NT lease Darwin's port to China? Chinese President Xi Jinping and then prime minister Tony Abbott witness the signing of the declaration of intent on the Australia/China Free Trade Agreement at Parliament House in Canberra. He is the Chairman of Asialink and CNSDose, and a strategic advisor to Beef Innovations Australia, as well as a range of national and international businesses. Mr Cheng's company, Landbridge Group, was embroiled in controversy when it was awarded a 99-year lease over the port of Darwin. That was the day before the 2016 federal election, that Mr Robb had stated months earlier he would not be contesting. Contact us on: support@crikey.com.au or call the hotline: +61 (03) 8623 9900. 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. Mr Robb also took a shot at former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce for his role in the deteriorating relationship with China. Mr Robb has been approached for comment on his new role, but the former minister, who is currently overseas, has not yet responded to the ABC. The scheme was largely prompted due to concerns about undeclared Chinese government efforts to influence Australian institutions, but applies to any lobbyist or consultant working for a company or think tank controlled by a foreignnation and involved in influencing the political process. But attention has been drawn to Darwins newly minted friendship deal with Yuexiu District, in Guangzhou, due to Chinese media describing it as part of President Xi Jinpings signature Belt and Road Initiative. Copyright 2023 Private Media Pty Ltd. Publishers of Crikey. David Llewellyn-Smith is Chief Strategist at the MB Fund and MB Super. Mr Robb, who quit as a minister in Malcolm Turnbull's government before the last election, previously denied working on behalf of Beijing, and defended his contract with Landbridge, saying he was not doing business in Australia, so could not be captured by the new scheme. Following a front-bench re-shuffle in March 2010, Robb was appointed Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction, a post previously held by Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce, and chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee. In a sign of panicked desperation, the federal government is today continuing with the whole nobody but us can keep us safe national security agenda. The lease, signed in 2015, is between the Northern Territory government and Landbridge Group, a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Rather than sell outright, the territory government decided to lease the port, and sell a controlling stake in the ports operator. Landbridge confirmed Mr Robbs departure. Chinese Darwin port owner plans energy expansion Robb argued that a formal citizenship test would be a clear incentive for aspiring citizens to have basic English language skills and understanding of their community. This website is dedicated to the public interest. But now, by design or not, the Darwin port deal increasingly looks like a blueprint for how Chinese interests can take control of foreign ports as it is doing by various means around the world without arousing local opposition. In April 2016, less than three months before his consultancy agreement began, Mr Robb visited China with an Australian delegation in his capacity as Australia's trade envoy. I've known him for a very long time. 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". Former LNP Trade Minister Andrew Robb profited enormously from the port deal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, MHR has warned the federal Government to tear up the Port of Darwin lease with its Chinese owners, arguing that a "review" will achieve nothing but waste time. Robb claimed in 1991 that Peter Reith and Hewson were spooked into releasing their policies too early. The most drastic would involve the government forcing Landbridge, owned by . News State NT News Andrew Robb joins Chinese company with control of Darwin Port 3:40am, Oct 31, 2016 Updated: 3:48am, Oct 31 Andrew Robb joins Chinese company with control of Darwin Port Robb was still Federal Director and campaign manager in 1996 when John Howard after he replaced Downer as leader in 1995, won the 1996 federal election campaign, which defeated the Keating government and brought the Liberals to power after 13 years in Opposition. Not much, according to defence experts and academics, but there's a few outstanding issues of interest with the whole saga. Mr Ye's interest in the winery is via his brother, Gang Ye. Ms McKenzie was chief of staff to Andrew Robb when he was the Liberal government's trade, investment and tourism minister. Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James agreed. Oh, that was like 7 years ago, said Dutton about Former Trade Minister Andrew Robbs advocacy to give Chinese company Landbridge a 99-year lease to the Port of Darwin. "We can't afford to be afraid of China, in the sense that when we need to speak up about issues that concern us, we have to be able to do that; otherwise if we run scared, we've already half lost.". Ye Cheng, of Landbridge, and then trade minister Andrew Robb in 2015. Robb, one of nine children, was born to Frank and Marie Robb, on a dairy farm in Epping which lies 18 kilometres (11mi) north of Melbourne. FORMER trade minister Andrew Robb has become a "high-level economic consultant" with Landbridge, the Chinese company that operates Darwin Port . Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Robb remained a member of . But the fear of angering China has weighed heavily on Australian-elected officials, with the greatest fear coming in the form of economic sanctions. Until his recent retirement from politics, Andrew Robb was Australia's Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism. Scott Morrison's Role In Selling Darwin Port To China Mr James said Mr Robb's comments seemed to be made to advance the position of the Chinese business interests he served. Andrew Robb joins Chinese company with control of Darwin Port, Keep up with the latest ASX and business news, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies at age of 46. Liberal Andrew Robb takes $880k China job as soon as he finishes in The Northern Territory government has signed a $506m agreement with a Chinese based group for a 99-year lease of the Darwin port, . Former trade minister Andrew Robb becomes a "high-level economic consultant" with the Chinese company that now operates Darwin Port, a $506 million deal that sparked concerns at the highest levels . Local government officials love signing such deals. Chinese port company warns Australian review raises sovereign risk In 2004, he was comfortably elected to the safe Liberal seat of Goldstein in Melbourne and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on 27 January 2006. Neither has the fact that Mr Robb is being used to spruik a Chinese Communist Party-backed trade park as part of his consultancy agreement. Were working to restore it. Former Trade Minister Andrew Robb joins Landbridge Group It makes Darwin an interesting case study a point of contest between the strategies of the US and China. Here's what they think of a Voice to Parliament, Soccer spectator accused of punching out teeth of referee in 'outrageous attack' refused bail, How Australia was left with only one deployable submarine, The Landbridge Group was awarded a 99-year lease, ADF official raises red flag over Darwin port deal, Police investigating gangland shooting allegedly uncover separate murder plot, Pioneering Australian musician and The Dingoes frontman Broderick Smith dies aged 75, 'I don't buy that one bit': Next AFL CEO denies claims of a boys' club after promotion from general counsel, How Heather Mitchell survived a 'testosterone, cocaine and alcohol-fuelled' workplace, Hundreds of 'completely underfunded' Coalition-era infrastructure projects on the chopping block, The public will be asked to pledge allegiance to King Charles III. Now not so much. Chinese influence compromises the integrity of our politics. Please try again later. For some, it's the exercise of debt and debt collection.". All above board, maybe, but does it really pass the pub test? Chinas strategy is very long-term. Australia's warm relationship with China has developed frostbite in the five short years since the deal was . Andrew Robb quits China-linked firm before foreign interference law This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); With access to over 4 million readers per month, and often more, we provide opportunities to add value to different brands across the country who are interested. Many Curious Darwin readers asked how Mr Robb was . Mr Ye publicly announced on September 2 last year that Mr Robb had been appointed as a "high-level economic consultant". While the centre of US-Chinese tensions is the South China Sea where China has militarised reefs in disputed waters Darwin is important because it is the southern flank of US operations in the Pacific. Opportunities exist across website, brand awareness, podcasts, social media content, and video campaigns. Chinese sell-out Andrew Robb land banks his millions The operator of Darwin Port is struggling to pay down debt and is reliant on a letter of support from its Chinese owner. Back then it was criticised over national security implications, and drew a rebuke from former US president Barack Obama. There has been some tweaking of rules about political parties accepting foreign donations. Ultimately, he said the move was all about soft power and influence. "Andrew has said he's aware of the ministerial code of conduct and he'll abide by it," she said. The new register is designed to ensure that, if a person is advocating on behalf of a foreign power, it is declared. The bid for the port was examined and approved by the Foreign Investments Review Board, the Defence Department and ASIO. It ended with the city being decimated 77 short years ago. Ashley Manicaros: Build a Landbridge and get over the leasing of Darwin Landbridge Australia, a subsidiary of Shandong Landbridge, won the 99-year lease with its bid of A$506 million in November 2015. But company records reveal that Andrew Robb Pty Ltd . Australia's warm relationship with China has developed frostbite in the five short years since the deal was signed. The arrangement, uncovered by a Fairfax Media-Four Corners investigation, involves monthly payments of $73,000 (including GST) to Mr Robb starting on July 1, 2016. Mr Ye placed Mr Robb on his payroll 10 weeks later. In a November 2016 interview with the ABC, Mr Robb said that "most of what he [Mr Ye] wants me for is because of my knowledge of other countries and other governments. Thats open. Please login to engage in the commentary. Darwin port deal is a nice little earner. Robb was on the payroll of Landbridge before he resigned as an MP. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. An Australian Border Force Cape-class patrol boat docked at the Darwin port. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. 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. Barnaby Joyce has called on former trade minister Andrew Robb to answer questions on his role with Landbridge - leasee of the Darwin port - as former top US intelligence chief James Clapper . Chinese-owned company Landbridge has a 99-year lease over the Darwin Port. "Australia-China political relations had "turned to custard" and . They must also ensure their personal conduct upholds the reputation of Parliament. In 2015, a 99-year lease was granted to the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group, a transaction that has since ignited significant . Why did we lease Darwin's port to a Chinese company? The Port of Darwin's 99-year lease with Chinese company Landbridge has attracted criticism since 2015. News National Former PM Rudd urges review of lease of Darwin Port to China company. This suggests Chinese authorities regard Darwin as having strategic significance. "Landbridge's commitment to the growth of the Port of Darwin will be a huge spur to the development of Australia's north, serving as a catalyst for the entry of major investment right across the port's upstream supply chain in agriculture, resources and energy and economic infrastructure," he told the Guardian in late 2015. Landbridge head Ye Cheng, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and then trade envoy Andrew Robb in Beijing in April 2016. The combined filings show Landbridge borrowed at least $870 million in the months leading up to its Darwin Port acquisition from the high yield market and local bond market. Andrew Robb's secret China contract: money for nothing / -12.4708; 130.8483. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/can-darwin-port-99-year-lease-china-be-reversed-andrew-robb-role/10912478, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article. In December 2017, then Attorney-General George Brandis suggested that Mr Robb would have to sign up to the new register. Robb became deputy director of the Liberal Party before being appointed chief of staff to Andrew Peacock, then Leader of the Opposition, in 1989. . "He has no credibility now, he left Parliament and went to work for Chinese interests," he said. Balancing between powerful friends with competing interests may not prove easy. Rang Jeff Kennett and within three days he had me in front one of the best professionals in the state and this guy said you know you've had a problem for fifty years, you've had it for fifty years but he said it was fixable, which was fantastic."[27]. Charles Darwin University academic John Garrick has been researching China's international strategic actions, and said the Commonwealth Government doesn't really have a leg to stand on if they want to take the lease of the port back now. Port Darwin - Wikipedia Enter your email address and Crikey will send a Verification Code. Andrew Robb, Martin Ferguson, Peter Reith and Stephen Conroy are among the former ministers who swiftly took jobs as lobbyists Thu 27 Jun 2019 14.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 27 Jun 2019 21.35 EDT Or does it just reinforce the fact that politicians take the public for mugs? Darwin Port lease to Chinese company Landbridge should be - ABC [25], During 2009 Laurie Oakes's column in The Australian, Robb disclosed that he was stepping down from the opposition front bench for three months to address a form of depression brought on by Diurnal Variation, which is typically experienced as positive mood variation (PMV mood being worse upon waking and better in the evening). The Landbridge statement from September 2 said "the process of internationalisation of the Landbridge Group and the results achieved had greatly impressed him (Mr Robb)". There are certain things that have been thousands of years in the making with regard to China, such as saving face.. Brandis tries to appease Andrew Robb over foreign interests crackdown Its estimated that Mr Robb pocketed more than $2 million plus expenses from Landbridge. . The strategic risk can be managed, Mr James added, but never completely eliminated, and managing it will cost the Government. And what role, if any, did Andrew Robb play? 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. The port's acquisition sparked a major controversy after then US president Barack Obama complained he hadn't been forewarned. Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015 . Port of Darwin lease: don't hold your breath! - MORNING MAIL Become a subscriber to get full access to the website, as well as our premium newsletters. Mr Robb had announced months earlier he would not recontest his seat of Goldstein. Yes, in breaking through we have got a little bloodied, but our efforts were not in vain, and they must not be in vain. Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, former prime minister Tony Abbott and then trade minister Andrew Robb at the signing of the China-Australia free trade agreement in June 2015. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen. Andrew Robb takes role with Chinese company that operates Darwin port "We had our deputy prime minister last year stand up in front of a Channel 9 TV camera and say, 'I want all Australians to know that ISIS is not our security threat, China is our security threat'; this is irresponsible," Mr Robb said. Andrew Robb joins Chinese company with control of Darwin Port Billionaire Ye Cheng is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. Mr Robb is currently Chairman of The Robb Group (wealth management, corporate and investment advisory company), the AgriFood Data Exchange, CDMA and CLARA Energy; a Board Member of the Kidman cattle enterprise, Mind Medicine Australia, and strategic advisor to Seafarms Ltd as well as a range of national and international businesses. 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". From left, now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Landbridge chief Ye Cheng and then trade minister Andrew Robb at a northern development conference in 2015. revealed his fee, and that he had joined the company straight after quitting parliament, has been blocked from entering Australia and has had his permanent residency cancelled, continues to advocate for Australia to back the policy. Robb and Hewson fell out over these events. Mr Robb has also been spruiking Rymill Coonawarra, a South Australian winery in which Mr Ye has a financial interest. Andrew Robb says said "Canberra had every right to reassess the port lease in light of changing strategic circumstances. quietly ceased his controversial consultancy with Landbridge. You can submit your questions on any topic at all, or vote on our next investigation. Thank you for your very kind wishes! Mr Robb had announced months earlier he would not recontest his seat of Goldstein. Our focus is investigations into big business, particularly multinational tax avoidance, banking and the energy sector. The Chinese owner of the Port of Darwin is using the port as security to seek a $500 million loan from the Chinese government's trade bank. The Crikey comment section is members-only content. At the time, Mr Robb had already been working for Mr Ye for eight weeks, and had earned $146,000, including GST but minus expenses. [15], In October 2016, it was announced that Robb had joined the Landbridge Group,[16][17] a Chinese company which had been granted a 99-year lease on Port Darwin in 2015, as a "high-level economic consultant". (Supplied: . Hearing senior Treasury staff describe the Northern Territory's budget as being in "dire straits" is the bureaucratic equivalent to saying, "we're stuffed". [26] Robb disclosed that, since adolescence, he had suffered depression for several hours each day in the morning. Every contribution, however big or small, keeps the lights on for this cowboy operation.