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The prime minister has refused to say what security guarantees Australia wants from Papua New Guinea in return for backing the Pacific country's bid for an NRL team.
Australia has committed up to $600 million over a decade to bolster PNG's pitch to secure a team in the competition, with the NRL set to make a final decision in coming weeks.
But the ABC revealed yesterday that as part of negotiations for the assistance package Australia has been seeking assurances PNG will not sign any security deals which would allow Chinese police or military forces to be based in the country.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape said a promise not to sign a security pact with China was not the "main feature" of the NRL deal. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
When reporters in Brisbane asked the prime minister exactly what security commitments Australia wanted from PNG, Anthony Albanese said he wouldn't discuss the issue in public.
"No, this is a relationship between friends," he said.
"What we don't do is have our security arrangements out there in public. What we do is we work with friends and partners.
"PNG has made it very clear that Australia is their security partner of choice."
Prime Minister of PNG James Marape implied there was a "security aspect" to the agreement on the weekend, but said it was not the "main feature" of the assistance pact.
"Both nations love rugby league, both nations have a strong affinity. And all in all, we're working towards far bigger issues than just the security aspect to it," he told the ABC.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he'd only had "preliminary" discussions with the government, the NRL and Mr Marape about PNG's bid.
"The government has offered to give us full detail, which we don't yet have," he said.
"I'll wait until we get that detail before I make any comment in relation to that."
Still, Mr Dutton suggested the Coalition was comfortable with tying sports diplomacy to Australia's strategic objectives in the region.
"Our interests in the region are absolutely paramount, particularly in very difficult times, so I want to make sure we can work with near neighbours including in PNG to make sure there's a family first approach (to security) in our region," he said.
"I want to make sure that we can continue to have very close ties with PNG and other countries and there are different ways that we can do that. We'll seek information about whether this is the most appropriate way from the government, and we'll make an announcement in due course."
Peter Dutton says he will wait for further details from the government on PNG's NRL bid before making any commitments. (ABC News)
But some analysts have criticised the federal government's decision, with Blake Johnson from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute warning that directly linking security outcomes with the NRL bid could breed cynicism and distrust in PNG.
"Australia is highly regarded in its sporting development and assistance in the Pacific region, undertaking activities that are traditionally considered soft diplomacy," he wrote.
"But there is nothing soft about using sports diplomacy to directly obtain security guarantees, and doing so could hurt our reputation across the region.
"How do they think PNG fans will feel knowing every home game they attend is brought to them only on the condition that Australia can decide whom they can accept help from and where?"
He also warned that future governments in PNG may not honour the agreement in any case, which would present Australia with difficult choices.
"How would fans react if a new PNG government increased ties with China, opening the door to Australia suspending the team or withdrawing its funding in retaliation?" he wrote.
"These actions would likely feed China's usually untrue narrative of Australia being a bullying and paternalistic partner with no genuine interest in helping the Pacific."