The US Marine Corp says this year's deployment to Darwin is the most "combat-credible" group sent yet, as the troops complete a week of intense training on the remote Tiwi Islands.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Dr John Coyne said the increased US presence in northern Australia signalled the region's strategic importance to both countries.

"There's clear evidence the US government is going to invest more in ensuring that supply chains [and] defence logistics facilities are present in northern Australia and ready to support a range of contingencies," he said.

"Forward deployment in Darwin and northern Australia really provides proximity to the region, it provides a capacity [for the US] to leapfrog operations," Dr Coyne said.

"It provides the US military with a forward operating base from which it can launch into the region."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz-tob0Gqtg

The prime minister has confirmed the 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin to Chinese-owned company Landbridge will be reviewed.

The seven-year-old lease became a flash point during the second debate of the recent federal election campaign, with Albanese criticising the former government for its handling of the matter.

“When I was a minister, we put US Marines into Darwin. When you have been a minister we have had the Port of Darwin sold to a company connected with the Chinese Communist Party,” he said at the time.

Former US president Barack Obama expressed concern about the lease at the time, while China hawks in the Defence establishment have also questioned the leasing of the Port undertaken by the former NT Liberal government.

An 18-month joint study with the US and the UK is due to be completed by early next year, but staffers from a high-powered US Senate committee have been visiting Australia for talks this week.

Newly tabled responses to Senate questions on notice show the nuclear-powered submarine taskforce has an approved budget of $120m for the 2021-22 financial year and $180m for 2022-23.

That would include funding for technical studies and travel. It would also cover contributions to other government entities which are supporting the taskforce, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and nuclear agencies Ansto and Arpansa.

costs of actually building the submarines are yet to be allocated in the budget

A USA Marine will face court over allegations of assaulting a woman at a popular nightclub in Darwin.

A Marine Rotation Force Darwin spokesman confirmed that a marine stationed from their unit had received a notice from police to appear in court regarding an incident last month.

NT Police confirmed a Darwin woman was assaulted at a popular nightclub, the Landmark Hotel on Roystonea Ave on April 30.

It is understood CCTV captured footage of the alleged incident.

“We are working diligently to determine the facts in this situation, and are complying with all orders, policies, and agencies involved,” the MRF-D spokesman said.

On Tuesday NT Police issued a man with a notice to appear in court for the alleged indecent assault. He will appear in Darwin Local Court on June 16.

The 21-year-old man will face court after being charged over an alleged incident at a bar outside of Darwin.

Northern Territory Police said a 21-year-old man had been issued a notice to appear on Tuesday, following the alleged incident in Palmerston on April 30.

It is unclear if the Marine has been stood down over the allegations.

“MRF-D takes allegations of misconduct seriously and we hold our Marines and Sailors to the highest standards of conduct."