Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated he would look to buy back the Port of Darwin from Chinese company Landbridge under a re-elected Labor government, the most significant move yet to bring the strategic asset once more under Australian ownership.

Mr Albanese said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp radio on April 4 the port needs to be “in Australian hands”, including the possibility that a private buyer would be sought to take control.

“We will enter into negotiations to do that,” Mr Albanese said. “That is what we’ve been doing informally through potential buyers up to this point already, and if it reaches a point where the Commonwealth needs to directly intervene, then we’d be prepared to do that.”

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