Port of Darwin operator says Albanese and Dutton are treating it like ‘a political football’ in election

Anthony Albanese says Australian superannuation funds may be willing to buy the lease of the Port of Darwin from Chinese-owned Landbridge. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The Chinese company that controls the Port of Darwin has accused Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton of treating it like “a political football” in the middle of a federal election campaign.

Federal Labor and the Coalition have both announced that if elected on 3 May they would end Landbridge’s long-term lease of the Port of Darwin, arguing it is strategically important and should be controlled by an Australian entity.