Former Australian trade minister Andrew Robb walked straight out of Parliament last year and into an $880,000-a-year job with a billionaire closely aligned to the Chinese Communist Party and its key trade policy. "He's now saying that any criticisms of improper Chinese behaviour attempting to influence our political system is our fault. A Darwinian survival story: Barnaby's northern port is more of a crazy Mr Robb also took a shot at former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce for his role in the deteriorating relationship with China. 2:30pm, Apr 27 . We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. In this capacity Robb worked with the next Leader of the Liberal Party, John Hewson, in the unsuccessful 1993 federal election campaign. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2016, representing the Liberal Party. Andrew Robb did not tell prime minister about role with Chinese company Previously, he was a general reporter in Crikey's Sydney office, where he started in 2018 while completing an arts/law degree at the University of Sydney. 2021 The Betoota Advocate | Site by Twisted Pear Concepts |, Support independent rural journalism, support Betoota, Everyday Bloke Sledges Rivals By Referencing 1962 Psychological Thriller Starring Frank Sinatra, Ageing Millennial Still Holding Hope For The Skins Style House Party She Didnt Get In High School, WA Acting Like Nobodys Seen A Swan Before, Medical Student Makes It Through Entire Conversation Without Explaining How Long Shes Gonna Be At Uni Haha, Vocal Anti-Plastic Campaigner Probably Gonna Stick To The Bottled Water In Bali, South Australia Makes Tourism Play To Bring 2028 Solar Eclipse To Adelaide, Scientists Reveal First Images Of New Omicron Sub-Variant, Tasmanian Family Living In Caravan Stoked Government Is Dropping Hundreds Of Millions On A Stadium, Plus One On Wedding Table Full Of People She Doesnt Know Really Ploughing Through The Wines, Bondi Rental Agency Under Fire For Asking Applicants To Upload Photographic Evidence Of Their Clear Skin, Precocious Little Shit Reckons This Isnt Real Carbonara, Wests Tigers Are Going To Win The 2023 NRL Grand Final. Noely on Twitter: "RT @TwoEyeHead: Govt to spend $3.8billion 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. Peter Dutton says circumstances were different in 2015. In February 2016, Andrew Robb quit his role as Australia's trade minister having just finalised the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement. [18] It was reported that Robb had accepted the $73,000 per month position before leaving Parliament. Nine years of serving you has come to an end! The private agreement between Mr Robb and Mr Ye contains no mention of Mr Robb's international knowledge and networks, referring only to his role providing "consulting" and "strategic" services. 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.". Landbridge confirmed Mr Robbs departure. But the deal put Darwin directly in the crossfire between US and Chinese interests. The former trade minister Andrew Robb did not talk to Malcolm Turnbull before taking on his role as an economic consultant with the Chinese company that operates the Darwin port.. Landbridge signed a $506m agreement with the Northern Territory government in October last year for a 99-year lease of the port.. Robb's consultancy was reportedly announced by the Landbridge Group on 2 September . [26] Robb disclosed that, since adolescence, he had suffered depression for several hours each day in the morning. The company has previously denied its operations are influenced by the Communist Party and stated that Mr Robb was not engaged in political representation on its behalf in Australia. Claiming that greenhouse gas emissions have gone down when the facts clearly show otherwise; breaking the law on responding to FoI requests; reneging on promised legislation; claiming credit for legislation that doesnt exist; accepting donations that breach rules. 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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. Can the Darwin Port's 99-year lease to China be reversed? . The former trade minister Andrew Robb did not talk to Malcolm Turnbull before taking on his role as an economic consultant with the Chinese company that operates the Darwin port. This was discounted by some commentators as hyperbole, an attempt to curry favour with the Chinese government. "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. Robb claimed in 1991 that Peter Reith and Hewson were spooked into releasing their policies too early. 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He described the situation as "reviewable," suggesting he may beginworking for the company again in future. 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. "That's what made it worse, a local government in the NT made such a silly decision that risked the freedom and strategic security of Australians over the next hundred years or when China democratises.". Mr James said Mr Robb's comments seemed to be made to advance the position of the Chinese business interests he served. Andrew Robb takes role with Chinese company that operates Darwin port Read more Brandis on Wednesday tried to assuage Robb, saying his former colleague needn't be concerned about the crackdown. Mr Katter's opposition to the Port of Darwin sale - Darwin already has no less than six sister city arrangements, including with the Chinese city of Haikou. Mr Huang has been blocked from entering Australia and has had his permanent residency cancelled by the Department of Home Affairs after advice from ASIO that he may engage in foreigninterference activities on behalf of the Chinese government. As soon as he left politics, Robb was hired by Shandong Landbridge on a $880,000 per year salary. And 96 years from now is long enough for a lot more to happen. Were working to restore it. [5], Robb resigned in 1997 (he was replaced by Lynton Crosby) and became a business consultant based in Sydney. 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. 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. The Landbridge group had been granted a 99-year lease on Port Darwin in 2015 during Robbs time as trade minister. Shandong Landbridge has substantial and varied interests including port logistics and petrochemicals. Mr Robb has also been spruiking Rymill Coonawarra, a South Australian winery in which Mr Ye has a financial interest. RT @TwoEyeHead: Govt to spend $3.8billion beefing up far Northern military assets. by Elizabeth Minter | Jul 20, 2020 | Deceptive Conduct, Liberal Party, QED. It will take quite a lot of adjustment in the UK for them to remove a lot of the assistance and protection for many of the agricultural products Its going to require a will on their part that hasnt existed,. Dr Garrick said China wouldn't be able to call in debts and assume control of any infrastructure in Darwin, but it was still a model that seemed to be being applied on Australia's northern shore. 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". Follow our live coverage. Mr Robb had announced months earlier he would not recontest his seat of Goldstein. Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James agreed. The bid for the port was examined and approved by the Foreign Investments Review Board, the Defence Department and ASIO. A Critical Infrastructure Centre has been created to give extra national security advice. The port has operated in a number of locations, including Stokes Hill Wharf, Cullen Bay and East Arm Wharf. Robb was also a board member of community organisations including the Garvan Medical Research Foundation and the 'Big Brothers Big Sisters' organisation. But the Darwin port deal differs in significant ways to other . By Leith van Onselen. "We've got an authoritarian government in a foreign country attempting to influence the Australian political debate, not just by improper means but in an improper fashion. Nine years of serving you has come to an end! As a small, open economy international trade and foreign investment has been critical to providing jobs and prosperity by Australians since European settlement over 200 years ago. "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. 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. 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. Regardless of the merits of the comment (which the boss of ASIO has dismissed as dangerous and divisive from Dutton), it hardly comes as a surprise that China might one someone else in power other than the party that has openly attacked and started trade wars with them. Now not so much. Many Curious Darwin readers asked how Mr Robb was . 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. But the Darwin port deal differs in significant ways to other port acquisitions. 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. 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. To cancel the lease, you'd have to pay an enormous amount of compensation to the lease holder," he said. In a ballot of Liberal caucus members, Julie Bishop prevailed with 44 votes, ahead of Robb who won 25 votes and Christopher Pyne with 18 votes. The $506 million the Northern Territory Government was paid for a 99-year lease of the Darwin Port by Chinese company Landbridge is long gone, but Australians' feelings of unease remain. Chinas strategy is very long-term. 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. Mr Ye plans to build a second trade park in Darwin. Dont pay so you can read it. Foreign investment: Joyce says Robb has questions to answer on Charles Darwin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. In that time Robb also sat on the boards of numerous Australian companies including Australia's largest consulting engineering company, Sinclair Knight Merz. He was succeeded by Steven Ciobo as Minister of Trade and Investment on 18 February 2016. In early 2019, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Robb had quietly ceased his controversial consultancy with Landbridge as the deadline loomed for lobbyists for overseas state interests to sign up to Australias new foreigninfluence register. Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. Andrew Robb's $880k China consultancy started day - Michael West Mr Robb said he was not doing business in Australia so could not be captured by the new scheme. This comes despite the fact they sold one of our most strategically positioned ports to a Chinese company with close links to the Chinese Communist Party in 2015. 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. 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 . The Defence Department and ASIO have vetted and cleared Landbridge's acquisition of the port. The strategic risk can be managed, Mr James added, but never completely eliminated, and managing it will cost the Government. This suggests Chinese authorities regard Darwin as having strategic significance. Were working to restore it. 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. The Landbridge group had been granted a 99-year lease on Port Darwin in 2015 during Robb's time as trade minister. Kishor is a federal politics reporter for Crikey, based in the Canberra press gallery. 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. 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.. Glenn Campbell. Late last year, the ForeignInfluence Transparency Scheme became active with the launch of a public register for people who seek to influence the Australian political process on behalf of foreign interests. READ MORE ABOUT BLACK DOG DAZE, CLICK HERE. 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. Landbridge, a . Any attempt by Landbridge to use the port as security to borrow money from a Chinese bank would trigger renegotiation of the lease. "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.". I remember when liberals sold off the Port of Darwin to China just so minister Andrew Robb, who authorised the sell off, could get a post politics grift. 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, . Mr Ye is the owner of Landbridge, which controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015 . Why don't more Australians know about the bombing of Darwin? At these challenging times, we need to work hard to reverse the souring of our political relationship. The Northern Territory government has signed a $506m agreement with a Chinese based group for a 99-year lease of the Darwin port, . "There's a pattern it's like a blueprint. Why did we lease Darwin's port to a Chinese company? "I had been commissioned by Landbridge for well over a year to prepare a comprehensive report on ways that Australia's world class health industry could assist with a major improvement of China's public health system," Mr Robb wrote in answer to questions. The risks of a new Cold War between the US and China are real: here's why. 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. Ye Cheng, of Landbridge, and then trade minister Andrew Robb in 2015. Credit: Glenn Campbell. Ms McKenzie was chief of staff to Andrew Robb when he was the Liberal government's trade, investment and tourism minister. Nobody in the emerging liberal trading bloc is going to be upset by it. As . Mr Robb's job with Landbridge commenced on July 1, 2016, according to a Four Corners Fairfax Media 2017 joint investigation. Citing legal advice, Mr Lee refused to say if he had paid any money for this stake. Opportunities exist across website, brand awareness, podcasts, social media content, and video campaigns. They must also ensure their personal conduct upholds the reputation of Parliament. 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 . Many of these grants were disproportionally awarded to marginal seats, with limited oversight and even less accountability. 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. Zhang Jie, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote in 2015 about the concept of first civilian, later military in which commercial ports are to be built with the goal of slowly being developed into strategic support points to assist China defending maritime channel security and control key waterways. Mr Brumby announced in February he was quitting the Australian board of Huawei, the Chinese telco accused by security agencies of posing a security risk to western communications infrastructure. Now, in a climate where national security concerns dominate the China relationship, the deal seems like a strange throwback to a simpler time a time when ministers like Andrew Robb and Josh Frydenberg could pose for photos with CCP-aligned Chinese billionaires, and when the relationship with our biggest trading partner was dominated by economic optimism. 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. Quite the reverse. quietly ceased his controversial consultancy with Landbridge. According to Morrison "Andrew Rodd is a person of the highest integrity. He added that defences raised by NT Government politicians and public servants about being able to take the port back in the case of rising tensions didn't address the strategic risk now, or the consequences of that later. Robb and Hewson fell out over these events. Former Trade Minister Andrew Robb joins Landbridge Group 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. and back in 2016, when former trade minister Andrew Robb was enjoying his $880,000 a year consulting contract with Landbridge, . [22], Robb is part owner of The Boathouse Group, which operates a number of Sydney restaurants and other venues. 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. 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. Do Darwin residents really drink more than other Australians? 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. In Australia it gave influential Liberal Party figure and former trade minister Andrew Robb an $880,000 job just months after he . 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. Darwin review could be final blow to Chinese investment in Australia Landbridge head Ye Cheng, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and then trade envoy Andrew Robb in Beijing in April 2016. Changes at the top for lobby group - MPNEWS Become a subscriber to get full access to the website, as well as our premium newsletters. Andrew Robb did not breach code of conduct by taking $880k - ABC Can the Darwin Port's 99-year lease to China be reversed? If Landbridge was to default, it would lose its money. Andrew Robb quits China-linked firm before foreign interference law kicks in. Then trade minister Andrew Robb is congratulated after he concluded the second reading debate on the China - Australia Free Trade Agreement in 2015. controversially acquired the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin in 2015. Follow our live coverage. Three months later, Mr Robb was on Landbridge's payroll. He added that former minister Andrew Robb also took on a lucrative consulting job with . "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. Senior Lecturer, Business Law, Charles Darwin University. We have always worked closely with our contacts and jealously guard their identities. Read more: [23], As of 2020, Robb serves as a director on the board of Mind Medicine Australia,[24] a not-for-profit organisation which promotes the introduction of psychedelic treatments for mental illnesses. 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. 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.. 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'. Former ministers are banned from lobbying the Australian Government for 18 months, meaning Mr Robb would have to wait another year before he can advocate for the Landbridge Group on trade matters. Thank you for your very kind wishes! Dr Garrick said it was interesting to observe China's recent engagement in poor Pacific Island nations over the past few years, where the Asian economic superpower has developed a type of "blueprint" for strategic positioning. An agreement between Darwins city council and an overseas municipal counterpart normally wouldnt attract much attention. 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. They have been reactive, readily accepting the lure of pearls cast on our shores without considering longer-term currents. 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. Australia's warm relationship with China has developed frostbite in the five short years since the deal was signed. Andrew Robb did not tell prime minister about role with Chinese company Brandis tries to appease Andrew Robb over foreign interests crackdown Chinese company secures 99-year lease of Darwin port in $506m deal [14], Robb is a board member of the Kidman cattle enterprise and the Network Ten television station. Cash Because it's for sale! Infrastucture Australia advised privatisation. It makes Darwin an interesting case study a point of contest between the strategies of the US and China.
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