China concern prompts new Darwin port talk

Infrastructure Minister Barnaby Joyce has flagged $1.5 billion for "new port infrastructure" in Darwin, with the ABC saying it understands the funds refer to a new port to be announced during the upcoming election campaign.

Mr Dutton did not rule out the possibility of a new Darwin port when pushed by reporters on Thursday. 

"There's a massive commitment from the government into the Northern Territory and that does look at port development and ways in which we might be able to look at support through contracts in defence for example," Mr Dutton said in Canberra on Thursday.

"We will have more to say about that in due course."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison previously said the federal government would only act in relation to the port lease "if there is advice from the Defence Department or our ­security agencies that change their view about the national security implications of any piece of critical infrastructure".