The Port of Darwin was leased to the Chinese company Landbridge by the Northern Territory Government in 2015, under the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government led by Chief Minister Adam Giles.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • It was not the federal government in Canberra, but the Northern Territory Government that made the decision.
  • The deal was a 99‑year lease of the commercial operations of the Port of Darwin to Landbridge Group for about A$506 million.
  • At the time, the NT Government was controlled by the Country Liberal Party (CLP), and the decision became highly controversial due to national security concerns and the port’s strategic location near where U.S. Marines rotate through Darwin.

Why this became a big deal

  • The lease sparked criticism from security experts, sections of the Australian public, and international partners (especially the United States), who worried about Chinese control over critical infrastructure in northern Australia.
  • Subsequent federal reviews examined whether the lease should be cancelled on national security grounds, and the question of “who sold the Port of Darwin” has remained a live political talking point in Australia’s domestic debates.

Mini timeline

  1. 2012 – Country Liberal Party wins government in the Northern Territory and begins pursuing privatisations, including Darwin Port.
  1. Late 2014–2015 – NT Government runs a process to lease the port to a private operator.
  1. October–November 2015 – NT Country Liberal Government grants Landbridge Group a 99‑year lease over the port’s commercial operations for A$506 million; the arrangement takes effect on 16 November 2015.

Simple answer again

  • The Port of Darwin was sold/leased by: The Northern Territory Government (Country Liberal Party, Adam Giles as Chief Minister) in 2015.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.