The Defence Minister hasn’t ruled out tearing up a controversial deal leasing the Port of Darwin to a Chinese state-owned enterprise for 99 years.

The port has been a major sticking point for the federal government’s hardline stance on China after it previously intervened with Victoria’s Belt and Roads agreement.

While Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce yesterday wouldn’t be drawn into giving an answer on the contract’s fate, Peter Dutton has today left the door open for it to be scrapped.

Peter Dutton: “We haven’t finalised the advice from the Australian Defence Force at the moment and a whole heap of intelligence goes in behind that report.

“Do we talk a tough game? Well I think we talk an honest game about the threats that our country faces.”

Scott Emerson: “Just on that port, Peter Dutton, just on that port, are you saying it’s possible you could tear up that lease or at least pay it out?”

Peter Dutton: “We haven’t discounted that as an option at all, Scott.

“We could forcibly remove the company that owns it now, we could condition it, we could make no change at all.

“Those options are before us but it needs to be properly informed by intelligence.”

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