Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the point in an interview with ABC Newcastle radio host Scott Bevan on Saturday, a day before the Wallabies narrowly beat Fiji 21-18 in a rugby Test.
“It is really important to recognise that relationships between nations essentially come down to relationships between people. That’s why we unapologetically have provided support to support rugby in the region,” he said.
He mentioned the seven year $10 million deal from Australia for the Fijian Drua men and women to take part in the Super Rugby Pacific and Australia Super W competitions.
Albanese said it was “absolutely critical” to keep the Pacific Islands close as Australia’s ties with the US and China fluctuates.
“One of the things that the Pacific Island Forum nation states have been clear on is that we need to be the security partners of choice for each other,” he said.
“That is very much in Australia’s national interests that that occur … what we do is help each other out because of our common interests and common values.”
Albanese believes sporting ties will help these Island nations not feel as if they are caught up in a geopolitical tug of war.
“The truth is that we enjoy similar sporting activities … because we are part of the same region and personal relations are so important. That’s why there is a link between sporting activity and political discourse,” he said.
PNG NRL DEAL BENEFITS SPELT OUT
On the 10-year $600m funding deal for PNG that will see a club from that country join the NRL, Albanese says rugby league will help cement ties between the countries by boosting economic development.
“One of the things that rugby league will do, as Union does and a sport can do, is to link in with education and economic development so, you will see coming from that increased tourism into Papua New Guinea,” he says.
“It will provide a real pathway for economic development. It also will mean better health outcomes, a stronger, more secure and healthier PNG population with increased education resources … it’s very much in Australia’s national interest.”
He also pointed out that Australia has a “considerable defence and security presence throughout the Pacific” which will help in areas such as training police forces and disaster relief.
WALLABIES JUST HOLD ON AT NEWCASTLE
The Wallabies became the first team to hold the Vuvale Bowl (a Fijian tanoa or kava mixing bowl) at a sold-out McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
Albanese attended the game along with Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka and former Fijian Wallabies such as Lote Tuqiri and Ilie Tabua.
The Wallabies led 14-0 at one point in the first half before Fiji fought back on halftime with a try.
The hosts were forced to ensure a physical challenge in the second half as the visitors ran straight and hard at them.
The Fijians were denied a crucial try after match officials ruled that a Wallaby had been out of touch just before he lost the ball which the Fijians pounced.
The Australians were also denied a try after a final pass was ruled forward.
The game remained in the balance, as Fiji led 18-14, until the 77th minute when captain Harry Wilson wrestled over for the converted try to seal the 21-18 scoreline.
