Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Just to clarify: I think your answer to Senator Hanson means—and could you please correct me if I'm wrong—that, whether it's the Port of Darwin or the other ports the senator listed, those existing arrangements cannot be vetoed or altered by passage of this legislation, because they're with private entities. That's my first question, about the arrangements. Whilst I understand your argument that, with bipartisan support, you've done what we suggested, which was a different approach on FIRB and critical infrastructure et cetera, there is no capacity for government to regulate leases that have already been signed under those arrangements going forward. Does the minister have any concerns about any foreign policy implications or national security implications of those existing arrangements?