Andrew Robb Chinese Darwin port owner plans energy expansion Former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage said he was stunned that Australia had blind-sided its ally. "Oh, that was like 7 years ago," said Dutton about Former Trade Minister Andrew Robb's advocacy to give Chinese company Landbridge a 99-year lease to the Port of Darwin. 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. [26] Robb disclosed that, since adolescence, he had suffered depression for several hours each day in the morning. Ultimately, he said the move was all about soft power and influence. Andrew Robb says said Canberra had every right to reassess the port lease in light of changing strategic circumstances. Despite pleas by non-political heads of our spy organisations, the government is today insisting on carrying on like they give a fuck about our national security. As part of the "confidential" consultancy deal, Mr Robb, the architect of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, began consulting to Ye Cheng the day before the July 2 federal election last year. Andrew Robb today completely rejected the assertions and innuendo made in a piece of gutter journalism in the Sunday Age newspaper. 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. 2:30pm, Apr 27 . The reason Darwin port was leased to the Chinese is because federal government at the time (LNP) refused to fund the ageing Darwin Port. 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. Mr Robb joins former foreignminister Bob Carr and former Victorian premier John Brumby in leaving lucrative roles with companies or, in Mr Carrs case, a think tank, founded by businessmen with strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Mr Ye frames much of his business activity, including the acquisition of the Port of Darwin lease, in terms of advancing Beijing's ambitious global trade and infrastructure project "One Belt, One Road". Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. An Australian Border Force Cape-class patrol boat docked at the Darwin port. How did the port sale propel the sleepy territory into a geopolitical brawl? Andrew Robb - Wikipedia Three months later, Mr Robb was on Landbridge's payroll. Australia-China political relations had turned to custard and business ties could follow. Now not so much. "It is the responsibility of all former ministers to adhere to the Statement of Ministerial Standards and not take personal advantage of information to which they have had access as a minister where that information is not generally available to the public," Senator Ryan said in a statement. This suggests Chinese authorities regard Darwin as having strategic significance. Former trade minister Andrew Robb takes role with Chinese company He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2016, representing the Liberal Party. But the deal put Darwin directly in the crossfire between US and Chinese interests. Former trade minister Andrew Robb, who . The statement also said deputy secretary Liu had met Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NT Chief Minister Adam Giles on April 14, 2016, and "proposed the co-operative model of Two Countries, Two Parks". "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?" He was an agricultural economist with the Victorian Department of Agriculture and a tutor in economics at La Trobe University before being an economist for the National Farmers' Federation, and later executive director of both the National Farmers' Federation and the Cattle Council of Australia. Former trade minister Andrew Robb has quietly ceased his controversial $880,000 per annum consultancy with a company closely linked to the Chinese government, as the deadline looms for lobbyists for overseas state interests to sign up to Australias new foreigninfluence register. Thats open. Dont pay so you can read it. Hearing senior Treasury staff describe the Northern Territory's budget as being in "dire straits" is the bureaucratic equivalent to saying, "we're stuffed". We are guided by a deceptively simple, old idea: tell the truth and shame the devil. [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. Why don't more Australians know about the bombing of Darwin? Port Darwin: reverse Andrew Robb's greedy blunder - MORNING MAIL "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. Ms McKenzie was chief of staff to Andrew Robb when he was the Liberal government's trade, investment and tourism minister. Mr Robb was reported to have pocketed more than $2 million plus expenses in his time. 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 in a storm: the Darwin lease made sense only a few years ago. Mr Brumby, Mr Carr and Mr Robb have previously insisted that the Chinese government has no tangible influence in the organisations they worked for, despite evidence the organisations founders were aligned with the Chinese Communist Party willingly, or because of the way the party-state controls seemingly private companies. According to an official Chinese government statement, the park is designed to capitalise on the China Australia Free Trade Agreement as well as Mr Ye's purchase of the Darwin port. He is also a former gold trader and economic commentator at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the ABC and Business Spectator. Blokes Who Sold Darwin Port To China Still Acting Like They Give A Fuck Andrew Robb quits China-linked firm before foreign interference law 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! / -12.4708; 130.8483. [8] The then leader of the Liberal Party, former Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, announced that Robb would be Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs in the new Coalition Shadow Cabinet. Andrew Robb's $880k China consultancy started day - Michael West Another Robb entity is facing (in mid 2019) a wind-up motion from the Commissioner of Taxation over unpaid taxes. They must also ensure their personal conduct upholds the reputation of Parliament. 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. Military-civilian integration was among the goals China set in its 13th five-year plan for 2016-20. Mr Robbs consultancy with the leaseholder of the Darwin Port, Landbridge, was trumpeted by the Chinese-government aligned company in 2016, but became intensely controversial when an investigation by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Four Corners revealed his fee, and that he had joined the company straight after quitting parliament. He served as Minister for Trade and Investment (20132016) in the Abbott and Turnbull governments, and also briefly as Minister for Vocational and Further Education in the Howard government in 2007. Why did we lease Darwin's port to a Chinese company? and back in 2016, when former trade minister Andrew Robb was enjoying his $880,000 a year consulting contract with Landbridge, . The port's acquisition sparked a major controversy after then US president Barack Obama complained he hadn't been forewarned. quietly ceased his controversial consultancy with Landbridge. Landbridge confirmed Mr Robbs departure. Dr Garrick said the luxury hotel project was a further extension of the interests of the group, "an entrenchment of their strategic positions", given its location on the waterfront, right next to Parliament House and Government House. Keep up with the latest ASX and business news, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies at age of 46. That was the day before the 2016 federal election, that Mr Robb had stated months earlier he would not be contesting. A Critical Infrastructure Centre has been created to give extra national security advice. 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. Then trade minister Andrew Robb is congratulated after he concluded the second reading debate on the China - Australia Free Trade Agreement in 2015.Credit: Andrew Meares. Andrew Robb joins Chinese company that controls Darwin Port - The New Daily "He's now saying that any criticisms of improper Chinese behaviour attempting to influence our political system is our fault. 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'. Chinese-owned company Landbridge has a 99-year lease over the Darwin Port. Former federal trade minister Andrew Robb took an annual $880,000 job with Landbridge after leaving federal parliament. Pay so everyone can. Nine years of serving you has come to an end! Mr Ye plans to build a second trade park in Darwin. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Mr Robb, the architect of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, began consulting to Ye Cheng the day before the July 2 federal election in 2016, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Democracy under siege from the rising forces of plutocracy. If the deal falls over, the government will need to seek new equity partners. [4] 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. Port Darwin - Wikipedia At the time the new owner, billionaire Ye Cheng, claimed the Darwin port deal was our involvement in One Belt, One Road. And they have picked this bloke, the Leader of the Opposition, as their candidate.. . Then US president Barack Obama expressed concern about the lack of consultation. Former "stooge of China" gives nod to Darwin Port seizure Senior Lecturer, Business Law, Charles Darwin University. 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. Australia was the first Western country to break through the metaphorical Great Wall of China in terms of free trade, creating a trading environment no Western G20 economy has ever enjoyed. Landbridge, a . [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 involves potential future actions by China as tensions flare up in the South China Sea and how Australia is positioned to respond as an American ally which had already been reprimanded by former United States president Barack Obama, who said he would have liked a heads up on the deal before it happened. Robb only left his position at Landbridge in 2019, shortly before a new foreign-interference law took effect. It is backed by the Communist Party-controlled Rizhao City Government in partnership with Mr Ye. Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. He was educated at Dookie Agricultural College, Parade College and La Trobe University, and has qualifications in economics and agricultural science. Citing legal advice, Mr Lee refused to say if he had paid any money for this stake. Darwin was a different place back in 1923, a young city almost 20 years away from being bombed by Japan and more than 50 years away from the devastation of Cyclone Tracy. "We're the victim here, it's about time Andrew Robb and other Chinese apologists stop victim-blaming.". [27], The following week, Robb said in an interview with 3AW's Neil Mitchell that he had found "doing things increasingly more difficult, I could be taking on more responsibilities especially in a public sense and decided to confront it a few weeks ago. 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. When questioned about his involvement with Landbridge, Mr Robb said in a statement: I can confirm that I fully understand my responsibilities as a former member of cabinet, and I can also confirm that I have, at all times, acted in accordance with those responsibilities.. Andrew Robb takes role with Chinese company that operates Darwin port 'A seriously dumb idea': Why did the NT lease Darwin's port to China? Robb remained a member of . [10], Robb is a republican;[11] he is against abortion except where the health and state of the mother are in serious threat.[12]. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended Mr Robb's decision, telling the ABC he should be allowed to have a post-Parliament career. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/andrew-robb-joins-chinese-company-with-control-of-darwin-port/7978648, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, 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. 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, . Landbridge has bought the lease, rather than a Chinese bank lending funds to the Northern Territory government to develop the port. 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. David is the founding publisher and editor of MacroBusiness and was the founding publisher and global economy editor of The Diplomat, the Asia Pacifics leading geo-politics and economics portal. There are certain things that have been thousands of years in the making with regard to China, such as saving face.. Many of these grants were disproportionally awarded to marginal seats, with limited oversight and even less accountability. 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]. He described the situation as "reviewable," suggesting he may beginworking for the company again in future. Liberal Andrew Robb took $880k China job as soon as he left Parliament President Xi subsequently established an integration committee to oversee civilian and military investment in technology. Crikey is an independent Australian source for news, investigations, analysis and opinion focusing on politics, media, economics, health, international affairs, the climate, business, society and culture. In 2015, a 99-year lease was granted to the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group, a transaction that has since ignited significant . Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James agreed. [14], Robb is a board member of the Kidman cattle enterprise and the Network Ten television station. 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". 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'.
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