I was disappointed but not surprised by Anthony Albanese’s lack of leadership in trying to duck his responsibility in disciplining his wayward senate trio (aka the “Mean Girls”). I was saddened to hear that our very own Katy Gallagher was one of them. This sorry saga puts into question his ability to lead Australia. If he can’t stand up to his own party, how can he stand up to aggressive countries like China? 

This brings me to the disturbing news that the recalcitrant PM of the Solomons is to sign an agreement allowing China to station warships and troops in the Solomons. The Solomon Opposition leader Matthew Wale and, it seems, most of the population is dead set against the idea. Australia needs to do whatever it takes to stop this agreement ever going ahead for our sake and for the sake of the people of the Solomons.

It is essential that we lift our game in the South Pacific. I first got a real insight into our South Pacific neighbours when I went on an ANU Rugby tour of Fiji and New Caledonia on a Soviet cruise ship, the Shota Rostivelli, in February 1976. It struck me then how vulnerable our region was to a hostile major power subverting it and thus threatening Australia. From that time on, it has been my view that we need to permanently station an ADF presence in all the major Pacific Island nations and formalise defence treaties with them if we have not done so (i.e. PNG, Solomons, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, etc). The best units to station there are probably engineer units (ARA ARES, Navy and Airforce) that could be employed helping the locals with developing much-needed capital works.

I went to Tonga on another Rugby trip with my family in January 2019. I met with the then PM of Tonga and several members of his cabinet and whilst they liked Chinese largess, they were very worried about China. The locals did not like the Chinese at all. When I was in Fiji in 2014 the locals there also did not like the Chinese. Both Fijians and Tongans found them arrogant, pushy and wanting to take over.

A permanent presence by the ADF helping out our Pacific brothers and sisters with training and aid projects, plus regular visits by larger RAN warships such as our two Helicopter Carriers to also help out with projects, deliver aid and also play some Rugby games against some of the local clubs would also go a long way to further build strong links. 

Speaking of Tonga and Rugby, the ACT Veterans Rugby club is hosting a golden oldies festival this Saturday 2 April at RMC with all proceeds raised going to the Tongan Volcano Relief Fund. The feature match is at 12.30pm between the Australian Parliamentary Rugby team and a Pacific All-stars team featuring several ex Tongan internationals, including former Brumby Ipolito Fenukitau. All are welcome to come and support our South Pacific family. 

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra Daily.

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