Former trade minister faces pressure over taking role with Chinese-owned company while an MP, as US ex-spy chief James Clapper warns Australia to be vigilant on foreign control of infrastructure

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Barnaby Joyce has called on former trade minister Andrew Robb to answer questions on his role with Landbridge – leasee of the Darwin port – as former top US intelligence chief James Clapper urged Australia to be vigilant on foreign control of critical infrastructure.

Clapper, a former director of US national intelligence, said he would not comment on internal politics but underlined US concern at the lease of the Darwin port to the Chinese-owned Landbridge company.

In an address in Canberra, Clapper said he raised the port issue with the director general of Asio, Duncan Lewis, and the then Australian secretary of defence Dennis Richardson.

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“I said ‘this is an Australian decision and all I would hope is that you have considered all the equities involved here’,” Clapper told the National Press Club. “I was assured that that was the case.”

Robb has faced criticism after Four Corners revealed he accepted a job with Landbridge the day before the 2 July election.

Robb’s office said he was travelling overseas and had no comment at this stage.

Joyce, as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader, said while he did not think Robb was lobbying for Landbridge, it was reasonable for people to ask questions about his role with the company.



“Noting at this time, I don’t think he is lobbying, he is working as an employee, that really is a question that Mr Robb should answer,” Joyce said. “I think it’s only fair and reasonable that people ... are curious enough to want to know the answers and that further discussions need to be held in regards to people’s roles and then I will always back in my nation.”

Joyce said it was important that there should not be any undue influence, implied or otherwise. “I believe absolutely that there should never be any, even an implied undue influence.”

His comments come after special minister for state, Scott Ryan, defended Andrew Robb, saying there had been no claim that Robb had been lobbying and thereby breached the ministerial code.

Scott Morrison said Robb was one of the most outstanding trade ministers Australia had had, closing the free trade deals with China, Japan and South Korea.

“I’m not privy to any of the discussions that he had with that company or what decisions he took or what issues were relevant,” Morrison said. “They are entirely matters for Mr Robb.:

The ministerial code of conduct says for 18 months, former ministers should not lobby, advocate or have meetings with members of the government or public service on any matter on which they have dealt with in the previous 18 months.



The code also says: “Ministers are also required to undertake that, on leaving office, they will 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.”

The code, set by Malcolm Turnbull, “sets out the expected standards for that conduct”. It is not law.

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Landbridge was awarded the lease of the Darwin port from the Northern Territory government in October 2015.

At that time, Robb welcomed the decision as “a powerful sign of the enhanced commercial relationship between Australia and China flowing from the China-Australia free trade agreement”.

“Landbridge’s commitment to the growth of the Port of Darwin will be a huge spur to the development of Australia’s north, serving as a catalyst for the entry of major investment right across the port’s upstream supply chain in agriculture, resources & energy and economic infrastructure.”

Robb stepped down as trade minister in February 2016 and – though the appointment was not announced by the company until September. He is reportedly paid $73,000 a month, or $880,000 a year, plus expenses. Robb told Four Corners he acted in line with his obligations as former trade minister.

Clapper warned Australia needed to be vigilant with Chinese attempts to acquire critical infrastructure.



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“The Chinese have made similar attempts particularly when it comes to an acquisition of what we would consider part of our critical infrastructure, certainly a port would,” Clapper said.

“And so through our mechanism, we have tried to raise if not red flags, certainly yellow flags, about the efficacy of making such deals. This is one case where first order of business is vigilance.”