CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has lambasted the former CLP Government after it was revealed the Defence Department learned the Port of Darwin would be leased to a Chinese company for 99-years just hours before the decision was announced.

An expert said the revelations, reported by The Australian through Freedom of Information documents, highlighted an “alarming ­naivety” on the part of the Defence Department about the nature of Chinese business.

The impending announcement also reportedly triggered a scramble to address US concerns about the sale but this has been denied by Defence.

US President Barack Obama was reportedly furious at the deal and lack of consultation and brought the issue to a head in his first meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The Australian reported a timeline contained in the documents showed the Defence Department and the office of Defence Minister Marise Payne were notified by the former Northern Territory Government that Chinese firm Landbridge had been chosen as the successful bidder on October 13 last year.

“The announcement was made by the NT Government later that day,” the timeline states. Washington was reportedly furious.

Mr Gunner said yesterday Labor had always opposed the sale of the port.

“It’s becoming more and more clear that the previous government did not consult or follow proper process in the leasing of Darwin Port,” he said.

“We intend to be a positive and stable government, and will work with Landbridge (who now the post) to get the best outcomes for Territorians.”

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings, a former senior Defence official, told The Australian that after inspecting some of the documents that “heavily censored as they are, (they) show an alarming naivety about the ­nature of Chinese business”.

CLP leader Gary Higgins was contacted for comment.