Democracy under siege from the rising forces of plutocracy. Following the Liberal Party's defeat at the 2007 federal election, Robb put himself forward as a candidate for Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. Secondly, it's not 'we' this is in of those 'gotcha' questions should be asking PM Morrison. But theres an election coming up and weve dropped the ball on some many issues because weve played politics instead of just doing our jobs, so we need to pretend that well be speaking Mandarin in 12 months if people dont vote for us.. READ MORE ABOUT BLACK DOG DAZE, CLICK HERE. 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. Ultimately, he said the move was all about soft power and influence. Keep up with the latest ASX and business news, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies at age of 46. Brandis tries to appease Andrew Robb over foreign interests crackdown 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. At these challenging times, we need to work hard to reverse the souring of our political relationship. Mr Robb said he was not doing business in Australia so could not be captured by the new scheme. 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. 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. Enter your email address and Crikey will send a Verification Code. A companydocument revealed that Mr Robbs consulting contract was so vague and ill-defined he would be paid even if he did nothing. Then there is the role of Andrew Robb. From left, now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Landbridge chief Ye Cheng and then trade minister Andrew Robb at a northern development conference in 2015. Credit: Glenn Campbell. One of Mr Ye's companies later produced lobbying material in Mr Robb's name in which the former trade minister described the Rizhao trade park as a project that "advances the objectives in the historic (CHAFTA) accord [that] I was honoured to play a significant role" while trade minister. Follow our live coverage. While he was Minister for Trade and Investment, Robb approved Chinese company Shandong Landbridge Group to lease Port Darwin for 99 years. [10], Robb is a republican;[11] he is against abortion except where the health and state of the mother are in serious threat.[12]. But it will not share any profit that Landbridge may eventually make. Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015 . Ms McKenzie was chief of staff to Andrew Robb when he was the Liberal government's trade, investment and tourism minister. 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. 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 Port in a storm: the Darwin lease made sense only a few years ago. They have been reactive, readily accepting the lure of pearls cast on our shores without considering longer-term currents. There are certain things that have been thousands of years in the making with regard to China, such as saving face.. Three months later, Mr Robb was on Landbridge's payroll.Credit: Landbridge. As with other Chinese port acquisitions, such as in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Greece and Djibouti, Landbridge is interested in acquiring and developing not only Darwins port facilities but nearby waterfront property. [20][21] Robb's employment with Landbridge Group ended in 2018, which Robb attributed to an atmosphere increasingly critical of the Chinese government. Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in . Ninety-six years is a long time by any standard. Shandong Landbridge has substantial and varied interests including port logistics and petrochemicals. He was Honorary Finance Director for the NSW Division of the Liberal Party and a member of the NSW State Executive. Theyll copy it if anything. Local government officials love signing such deals. There are indications of some recognition of this at the federal level. Australia's warm relationship with China has developed frostbite in the five short years since the deal was . [19][20] Landbridge Group is chaired by Ye Cheng, a billionaire with links to the Chinese Communist Party. 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]. Ashley Manicaros: Build a Landbridge and get over the leasing of Darwin Mr Ye placed Mr Robb on his payroll 10 weeks later. Robb is also the co-publisher of The Party Room alongside Senator Mitch Fifield,[citation needed] a journal designed to promote new policy discussion within the Federal Coalition. Then US president Barack Obama expressed concern about the lack of consultation. Listen to the news in Warlpiri, Yolngu Matha and Kriol, 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. "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. Now not so much. The bid for the port was examined and approved by the Foreign Investments Review Board, the Defence Department and ASIO. . Robb was also a board member of community organisations including the Garvan Medical Research Foundation and the 'Big Brothers Big Sisters' organisation. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 163,400 academics and researchers from 4,609 institutions. 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. 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. Chinese-owned company Landbridge has a 99-year lease over the Darwin Port. That potential is a long way off. Robb remained a member of . 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". News National Former PM Rudd urges review of lease of Darwin Port to China company. His time in this portfolio was marked by introducing a Citizenship discussion paper which encouraged public debate about whether Australia required a formal citizenship test. Mr Ye plans to build a second trade park in Darwin. Mr Robb's job with Landbridge commenced on July 1, 2016, according to a Four Corners Fairfax Media 2017 joint investigation. Clumsiness and indecision do not serve Australian interests well. This website is dedicated to the public interest. Robb and Hewson fell out over these events. Andrew Robb did not breach code of conduct by taking $880k - ABC The Defence Department and ASIO have vetted and cleared Landbridge's acquisition of the port. 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. Though privately owned, like many Chinese companies it has strong ties to the ruling Chinese Communist Party. He's got a global strategy for his company and he wants me to help him outside of Australia more than he wants me to help him inside Australia.". Chinese sell-out Andrew Robb land banks his millions Glenn Campbell. Port of Darwin lease: don't hold your breath! - MORNING MAIL Landbridge says if it happens then itll spike sovereign risk. In December 2017, then Attorney-General George Brandis suggested that Mr Robb would have to sign up to the new register. Additionally, he conducted 85 investment roundtables with 28 countries. And 96 years from now is long enough for a lot more to happen. [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. Former federal trade minister Andrew Robb took an annual $880,000 job with Landbridge after leaving federal parliament. Landbridge head Ye Cheng, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and then trade envoy Andrew Robb in Beijing in April 2016. Andrew Robb says said Canberra had every right to reassess the port lease in light of changing strategic circumstances. In December 2017, then Attorney-General George Brandis suggested that Mr Robb would have to sign up to the new register. Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. Charles Darwin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. Billionaire Ye Cheng is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. "Rather than being xenophobic about this, we need to be alive to the commercial deals that are being done and what might come later," Dr Garrick said. 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. 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. [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. A companydocument revealed that the consulting contract was so vague and ill-defined he would be paid even if he did nothing. "In short, we just don't know what might happen over the next 30 years, let alone the next 96, and the port has already been handed away," Mr James said. 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. . The late 2015 deal with Landbridge shocked the country and led to the most-asked question in the Curious series history, about why the NT decided to lease the port to a foreign company and how they got away with it. Weaknesses in Australian governments at all levels have been revealed. To cancel the lease, you'd have to pay an enormous amount of compensation to the lease holder," he said. 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 policy "One Belt, One Road". Andrew Robb joins Chinese company that controls Darwin Port - The New Daily 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. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. As soon as he left politics, Robb was hired by Shandong Landbridge on a $880,000 per year salary. Mr Robb's 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 . Following the election of the Abbott government in 2013, Robb was appointed Minister for Trade and Investment. 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. 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. To connect a sign in method the email must match the one on your Crikey account. Darwin review could be final blow to Chinese investment in Australia The federal government is considering scrapping a 99-year lease of Darwins port to a Chinese company, the latest point of tension in an increasingly chilly relationship between Canberra and Beijing. Mr James said Mr Robb's comments seemed to be made to advance the position of the Chinese business interests he served. Darwin already has no less than six sister city arrangements, including with the Chinese city of Haikou. The details of the consultancy have never been disclosed by Mr Ye or Mr Robb. In cases like Sri Lanka, China offered loans to build infrastructure. However, ASIO boss Mike Burgess and former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson have both come out to say that there is no foreign interference within the Australian Labor Party, and sensationalist comments from the likes of Dutton and Morrison do more damage than actual foreign interference in our democracy. "Just before Landbridge had an opportunity to formally present my report to Chinese authorities, they were advised not to bother because the relationship between the Australian and Chinese governments 'had become so toxic' that the report would be binned.". In 2015, a 99-year lease was granted to the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group, a transaction that has since ignited significant . Read more: 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 late 2015 deal with Landbridge shocked the country and led to the most-asked question in the Curious series history, about why the NT decided to lease the port to a foreign company and how they got away with it, You can submit your questions on any topic at all, or vote on our next investigation, former United States president Barack Obama, who said he would have liked a heads up on the deal before it happened, Landbridge (a private company, despite links to the Chinese Government) started official construction on a new $200 million luxury hotel on the Darwin waterfront, Former federal trade minister Andrew Robb took an annual $880,000 job with Landbridge, about a "toxic" relationship between Australia and China that he blamed on former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Australia's intelligence agencies, Everybody in the NT remembers the last time Darwin was caught in the middle of a conflict between the Americans and a rising Asian empire. Port Darwin is the port in Darwin, Northern Territory, in northern Australia. "It's probably too late to do anything. Crunch decision on Chinese-owned Port of Darwin looms Mr Robb has confirmed that he has left Landbridge for the time being because, "at this stage, Landbridge has no other projects relevant for me to assist". Andrew Robb says said "Canberra had every right to reassess the port lease in light of changing strategic circumstances. "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. 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. 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. And they have picked this bloke, the Leader of the Opposition, as their candidate.. The full text of this article is available to MacroBusiness subscribers, Cancel at any time through our billing provider, Stripe. Andrew Robb's secret China contract: money for nothing 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. Robb was on the payroll of Landbridge before he resigned as an MP. Andrew Robb Pty LtdC/- Ellerston Capital Level 4, 75-77 Flinders LaneMelbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.Tel: +61 2 9021 7743, Andrew Robb Pty LtdC/- Ellerston CapitalLevel 11, 179 Elizabeth StreetSydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.Tel:+61 2 9021 7743, All other questions, please use the form on the right, Andrew Robb Pty Ltd C/- Ellerston Capital, Level 11, 179 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.Ph: +61 2 9021 7743, READ MORE ABOUT BLACK DOG DAZE, CLICK HERE, Australian ASEAN Business ForumOpening Speech, Australia and China: There is always a way forward, Live cattle exports: Farmers fear betrayal, and a future of uncertainty, MEDIA RELEASE: Robb Rejects The Age Gutter Journalism, ASIAN MARKETS THE FUTURE POWERHOUSE: ROBB, Helping Australian companies to trade or invest into countries in the Asia Pacific region, Helping companies from the Asia Pacific region to trade or invest into Australia. 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". Port Darwin. Mr Robb also took a shot at former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce for his role in the deteriorating relationship with China. . "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?" Changes at the top for lobby group - MPNEWS When those loans come payable and the countries can't cover the debt, China assumes control of those infrastructure assets. The Port of Darwin lease made sense a few years ago. No longer - Crikey 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. Australia-China political relations had turned to custard and business ties could follow. Any attempt by Landbridge to use the port as security to borrow money from a Chinese bank would trigger renegotiation of the lease. "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. I've known him for a very long time. Mr Katter's opposition to the Port of Darwin sale - Mr Robb is one of several senior former Australian politicians who have been hired by or who hold roles funded by businesses or businessmen closely aligned to the Chinese Communist Party. Thank you for your very kind wishes! Why did we lease Darwin's port to a Chinese company? Military-civilian integration was among the goals China set in its 13th five-year plan for 2016-20. 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. In the months before the last election, the Government spent hundreds of millions of dollars of Australian taxpayers money on grants for sports, community safety, rural development programs and more. For some, it's the exercise of debt and debt collection.". Many Curious Darwin readers asked how Mr Robb was involved in the port deal. Murders of Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine, Minister for Vocational and Further Education, hired by Shandong Landbridge on a $880,000 per year salary, Learn how and when to remove this template message, JapanAustralia Economic Partnership Agreement, "Liberal Andrew Robb takes $880k China job as soon as he finishes in parliament", "Andrew Robb quits China-linked form before foreign interference law kicks in", "With memories of '93, the opposition readies the troops never to lose an unlosable election again", "ROBB: Andrew: Officer of the Order of Australia", "Liberals quietly go monarchist under Abbott", "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry", "Andrew Robb's secret China contract: money for nothing", "Andrew Robb unleashes over being targeted in foreign probe", "Robb joins Chinese company with control of Darwin Port", "Coalition defends Andrew Robb after revelation he started job while an MP", "ASIO warned politicians about taking cash from Huang Xiangmo, Chau Chak Wing", "China's 'invisible billionaire' the Port of Darwin's new owner", "Robb says work on a project in China was 'put in the bin' over toxic relations", "Investors keep The Boathouse Group afloat", "Coronavirus pandemic could trigger a spike in mental illness this organisation thinks psychedelic drugs will help", "Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW 693am: Andrew Robb MP - Federal Member for Goldstein", Andrew Robb profile on TheyVoteForYou.Org.Au, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andrew_Robb&oldid=1151969229, Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia, Members of the Australian House of Representatives, Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Goldstein, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, BLP articles lacking sources from August 2007, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 10:13. Were working to restore it. That is obvious. 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. "He's now saying that any criticisms of improper Chinese behaviour attempting to influence our political system is our fault. The port's acquisition sparked a major controversy after then US president Barack Obama complained he hadn't been forewarned. RT @TwoEyeHead: Govt to spend $3.8billion beefing up far Northern military assets. Darwin Port lease to Chinese company Landbridge should be - ABC "It's a position from which they can exercise further soft power and ingratiate themselves and show how they're contributing to the local community; many people will be celebrating that from the local council right up the line," Dr Garrick said. Howard had to be talked out of dumping Andrew in 1995 from his position as Federal director. While the federal government now seeks to shore up its interests in the Pacific with cash for infrastructure, similar commitments to investing in local infrastructure are essential. The new register is designed to ensure that, if a person is advocating on behalf of a foreign power, it is declared. Darwin port deal is a nice little earner. "I was approached two months after I finished in parliament and certainly about four or five months after I'd finished in cabinet and the [Landbridge] chairman said to me, 'would you consider coming and doing some work for me?' "That model of developing other sites around the waterfront is part of the model that has been used in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Djibouti and other places," he said. An agreement between Darwins city council and an overseas municipal counterpart normally wouldnt attract much attention. Landbridge signed . 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. 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. Before entering parliament, he was the federal director of the Liberal Party and oversaw the party's return to government at the 1996 federal election. If the courts decision does not stand, we will continue to face exposure to imperious government intervention in export markets, without any protection for those who do the right thing. Ye Cheng, of Landbridge, and then trade minister Andrew Robb in 2015. Credit: Glenn Campbell. Can the Darwin Port's 99-year lease to China be reversed? Liberal Andrew Robb took $880k China job as soon as he left Parliament. In this capacity Robb worked with the next Leader of the Liberal Party, John Hewson, in the unsuccessful 1993 federal election campaign. 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. has employed former trade minister Andrew Robb as a consultant, paying . 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 . We are guided by a deceptively simple, old idea: tell the truth and shame the devil.