Within a matter of hours. Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton both reached the same conclusion that Australia needs to own the strategic 'port of Darwin.' its lease has been controlled by a Chinese company for a decade. But, for different reasons, the two leaders now believe it must be taken out of Beijing’s hands and - if necessary - become Australian government-owned.
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00:00In the wrong hands, almost anything can be weaponised.
00:08The consequences?
00:11If it all goes wrong, casualties that could have been avoided.
00:17Before the Sharon shelling, Peter Dutton's top end tour was aimed at putting back in
00:22Australian hands an asset held by China for a decade.
00:27We will move immediately to secure the Darlan port.
00:30We need to make sure that we recognise the times in which we live.
00:34In Queensland's Sodden Centre, Anthony Albanese had gone to meet flooded farmers Marto, Beck,
00:43Cooper and Jacob.
00:45Determined to build back and it's important that Australia supports them.
00:50Recovery payments and a joint fund with the state to fix broken fences are on offer.
00:55Unreal, isn't it?
00:57Unbelievable.
00:58Although landlocked, he too ended up in the same policy place as his opponent, on the
01:03port of Darwin.
01:04We have a clear view, which is that it should be in Australian hands.
01:11Used by American forces and the warships of other friendly nations, the leasehold sale
01:16of the port to the Chinese-owned Landbridge has been a bugbear to the US and others for
01:21a decade.
01:22At the time, coalition and country-liberal governments were in place in Canberra and
01:27Darwin.
01:28It's clear that a mistake was made many years ago.
01:30This is the guy who sold it.
01:32Now both sides of politics want it back in Australian private ownership and if not...
01:38If need be, we will purchase as well.
01:40If we need to introduce further legislation, then we will do that to achieve this outcome.
01:44No one's talking publicly about price, one's spoken privately to the Chinese.
01:50We had contact yesterday with the Chinese ambassador.
01:53He's obviously got better connections with the Chinese ambassador, it's a very strange
01:56thing for him to say.
01:58Anthony Albanese insists the government's told the port's current owners of its intentions.
02:04Landbridge not only disputes that, we haven't had any discussions with the federal government
02:09or the NT government, it maintains, adding the port is not for sale.
02:15On their journey to the same destination of Australian ownership, the government and opposition
02:19come from different stated directions.
02:22Anthony Albanese suggests economic resilience is a key factor.
02:27Peter Dutton highlights the risk of Chinese sabotage or surveillance on the port.
02:32Either way, the careful diplomacy with Beijing could now become bruising.