China's arrogance opens a window of opportunity

I would urge the new Government to "think big, and act bigger" when it comes to using sport to engage most effectively with our region, and particularly with the regional countries we are most focussed on - such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, as well as Vanuatu and at some stage one hopes the Solomon Islands.

In PNG, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji sport is a significant part of the life of the nation, just as it is in Australia. Sport is also important, but not as important, in other island nations.

The Australian Government should call a summit of the leaders of all our major sports - rugby league, Australian rules, soccer, rugby union, cricket, netball, basketball etc, as well as the Olympic sports such as athletics and swimming - and develop a large scale, costly, and pro-active strategy.

Sports that are willing to participate should be invited to engage immediately with counterpart sporting bodies across our region to develop programs for men, women, and for juniors. Programs for women and juniors should be given high priority.

Sporting bodies that do so should be guaranteed substantial federal government financial assistance to provide coaches, managers, fitness coaches, for equipment and for travel.

The government should offer to fund scholarships for teams and for individuals and fund coaching and skilling schools and camps in Australia as well as our island neighbours.

One example how this could be done came to mind recently when I saw an announcement by the Queensland Rugby League that it was planning to construct a "Centre of Excellence" at a cost of more than $30 million.

The QRL has been a strong supporter of the development of rugby league in Papua New Guinea. A PNG team, the Hunters, competes in the Queensland Cup competition. Even the Covid pandemic has not prevented the team playing. It is based on the Gold Coast but hopes to play some games in PNG this season.

Perhaps the Australian Government could offer financial support for the Centre of Excellence project if the QRL agreed to taker in a number of players from the Pacific to attend it?

But it is not only rugby league where Australian support has been beneficial.

Both men's and women's teams from Fiji and other Pacific countries participate in various rugby union competitions in Australia. The Fiji women's team recently won the ARU women's championship.

There are existing links in other sports - but they need to be built on with greater "in country" engagement, and especially when it comes to women's sport and children's sport.