Its in the Australian national interest to comprehensively assist Tonga to rebuild

It just defies comprehension that such a nation could fall under China's influence, but then again the small population and small economy undoubtedly appeals to China's policy makers. Gaining strong influence in a small, but strategically important, country has come reasonably cheaply!

The question is how can Australia and New Zealand build on the goodwill we enjoy in Tonga total and reduce the PRC influence to the greatest extent possible. I have a couple of suggestions.

Firstly, both our governments should engage with the Tongan Government (there is a newly elected Prime Minister) on how we can help reduce Tonga's debt to China. This may require long term loans that enable Tonga to eliminate its debt with China as soon as possible.

Australia currently gives Tonga around $35 million a year in direct assistance. New Zealand also provides direct aid to Tonga.

We will have to significantly increase our assistance to help Tonga rebuild vital infrastructure damaged by the impact of the volcanic eruption and tsunami. We need to encourage New Zealand, the US and Japan, and the European Union and the United Kingdom to do more as well.

Perhaps Australia should offer to appoint, and meet the cost of, a rebuilding "il supremo" to oversee what is going to be a massive, complex and costly exercise.

If we don't then watch China step in with the offer of "loans" that Tonga simply does not have the capacity to repay.

My second suggestion is that both our countries should focus on the "people to people" association between the peoples of Australia and New Zealand and Tonga. When you have over 80,000 Tongans in New Zealand, and around 10,000 in Australia, building people to people links should be easy.

I am as some readers would know a rugby league tragic – I was even the rugby league writer for "Crikey!" for a number of years.

Rugby league, as my old friend the late broadcaster George Lovejoy defined it - "the greatest game of all" - has experienced enormous growth not only in Tonga, but also in the number of Tongans playing the game. Despite the fond hopes of "super League" a quarter of a century ago, rugby league is not played in China!

But Tonga is also known for its role in Rugby Union, and a number of women's sports.

The Australian Government, and New Zealand, should assist the major sporting bodies in Australia to assist sport in Tonga rebuild and expands its facilities. We should also assist with training especially coaches and sports administrators. And we should directly assist with international and regional participation.