A Chinese company's decision to take a port ownership dispute to court is disappointing, the federal government says, vowing to defend plans to return the facility to Australian control.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Labor was committed to bringing the Port of Darwin back under Australian control and was pursuing private negotiations with Chinese-owned company Landbridge.
He is disappointed the company has taken steps to put the matter before an international tribunal.
"We'll do everything in our power to defend that matter, but we'll continue to talk to Landbridge to try and resolve this," Mr Marles told reporters in Darwin on Thursday.
At 2025's federal election, Labor pledged to return the port to Australian hands for national security reasons, and has since been seeking a buyer.
