Aussie PM downplays "risk" of selling Port of Darwin to Chinese firm

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has downplayed the results of a secret SMS poll which indicated almost 90 percent of Australians believe a Chinese company managing the Darwin port would pose at least "some risk" to Australia.

The poll, conducted by the U.S. State Department, revealed that 43 percent of respondent felt there was "a lot of risk" in selling the Port of Darwin to Chinese firm Landbridge Group, while 46 percent of respondents said there was "some risk". Eleven percent of respondents deemed the deal "no risk" to Australia.

But the Australian prime minister told the press on Wednesday that the government would not be taking the "text message opinion poll" seriously, and both his government and the U.S. government had "appropriately" assessed any outcome of selling the Port of Darwin to the Chinese firm.

Turnbull said he discussed the sale with U.S. President Barack Obama when they met in the Philippines last year.

"The security issues relating to that port sale were thoroughly investigated in Australia's national interest by the relevant security agencies. That's how we determine security issues; not, with all due respect, by text message opinion polls," Turnbull told reporters.

"The U.S. government is satisfied that the security issues relating to the lease of the port were examined carefully and professionally and appropriately by the Defence Department."

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the survey, conducted by the United States, meant nothing as Australia's foreign policy and defence policy is "decided by Australia".

"It's not decided by the United States, China or anyone else," Shorten said.

The Port of Darwin was given to the Landbridge Group on a 99 year lease in a deal worth up to 376 million U.S dollars. Endit