The federal opposition and national security experts have questioned the deal since it was signed in 2015.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton confirmed the National Security Committee of Cabinet had tasked his department to “come back with some advice,so that work is already under way”.
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Asked whether the options would include forced divestment,Mr Dutton said the government needed to wait for Defence to provide its advice and,“we can look at options that are in our national interests after that”.
Mr Dutton’s comments follow Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggesting last week his government would act on the port’s ownership if he received advice from the Department of Defence or national security agencies.
“If there is any advice that I receive from the Department of Defence or intelligence agencies that suggest that there are national security risks there then you’d expect the government to take action on that,and that would be right,” Mr Morrison said.
Michael Shoebridge,director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s defence program,said he would support forcing Landbridge to divest from the asset but the company should consider doing so themselves.