China's arrogance opens a window of opportunity

What we in Australia don't fully appreciate is that especially in PNG, but also to an extent in other island nations, our sport is followed keenly - ranging from the Ashes tests to State of Origin and the Melbourne Cup!

It is fertile ground to use as a basis to expand people-to-people links and do so in a way that China cannot match!

China builds stadiums, such as it is doing for the Pacific Games in Honiara next year, but it has limited capacity to support training, coaching and women's and junior sport in particular.

I detect among the leaders of our major sporting organisations - and I can speak of rugby league in particular – an enthusiasm to work with the Australian Government to re-build and broaden our regional links.

Our new Prime Minister is a rugby league tragic - perhaps even more so than his predecessor was.

Rugby league can lead this engagement especially in PNG. But the fact that around 40 per cent of NRL first grade players have Pacific Islands, MÄori or Indigenous heritage makes it eminently suitable to lead this engagement.

But the other major and not so major sports can be involved fully as well.

China's arrogance and heavy handedness has suffered a setback, but it won't give up. It will come back in a different format even more determined than ever!

There is a window of opportunity for Australia - supported hopefully by New Zealand.

The new government is off to a promising start. Sport, as much as any other activity or endeavour, can help it build on the promising start and do so without undue delay.

Our immediate region is vital to the Australian national interest. Adding new vigour and variety to people-to-people links with our region is overwhelmingly in our national interest.

The funding and focus that would enable sport to play such a healthy and pro-active role can be secured - led by the national government, supported by the States, especially Queensland and New South Wales, and supported also by our major sporting bodies and business.

The unexpected opportunity China has unwittingly opened up needs to be grabbed with enthusiasm by a government that is showing a welcome commitment to our region - and building and broadening its vital relationship with Australia.