Closing Bell: ASX breaks through to record new closing high
10 of 11 sectors higher with broad strength across market
Materials leads gains, up 1.38pc
ASX almost breaks through 8600-point ceiling
The ASX 200 had one of its best trading days in months, rising 0.66% on broad strength across every sector except info tech.
It was looking like the Aussie bourse would break through the 8600-point ceiling, but a minor last-minute pullback saw us finish the day at 8597.7 points, breaking the last closing record of 8592.
Materials (+1.38%) and real estate (+1.77%) led gains, but huge swathes of the market were in the green today.
Info tech was the only pain point, shedding 0.73%, but it was small potatoes compared to gains made elsewhere.
Ironically, the ASX All Tech index still tipped into the green, adding 0.25% as the 46 stocks within the benchmark outperformed their peers.
All four banks forecast July interest rate cut
ANZ was the last major bank to change its RBA interest rate cut forecast today, switching its prediction from August to July.
The change comes after some soft retail sales data and gloomy consumer confidence stats amid ongoing global uncertainty.
'Given today's data showing a weak six-month trend in retail sales, the most recent reads on consumer confidence showing the prior uptrend remains stalled and ongoing uncertainty around US trade policy as we approach the expiry of the tariff pause, we now expect the RBA to cut the cash rate by 25bp at its July meeting," ANZ Research noted.
AMP's economists reckon it won't be the last this year.
"While we continue to see conditions improving from here thanks to lagged impacts from the cuts since February, recent disappointing data points to further cuts from the RBA to deliver more to boost the economy," AMP notes.
"Our base case is for four more cuts in July, August, November and February."
ASX SMALL CAP LEADERS
Today's best performing small cap stocks:
Security Name Last % Change Volume Market Cap
LLM Loyal Metals Ltd 0.225 73% 8775201 $13,095,298
LAT Latitude 66 Limited 0.038 65% 2008053 $3,298,216
AN1 Anagenics Limited 0.006 50% 423765 $1,985,281
IPB IPB Petroleum Ltd 0.006 50% 2580442 $2,825,612
PKO Peako Limited 0.003 50% 120000 $2,975,484
SIS Simble Solutions 0.006 50% 6284642 $4,329,321
EEL Enrg Elements Ltd 0.002 33% 792525 $4,880,668
IS3 I Synergy Group Ltd 0.002 33% 1481093 $2,253,285
SRN Surefire Rescs NL 0.002 33% 1748880 $3,729,668
NHE Nobleheliumlimited 0.025 32% 829682 $11,390,975
T92 Terrauraniumlimited 0.038 31% 2952990 $2,955,546
CAN Cann Group Ltd 0.014 27% 3119052 $6,997,938
OCN Oceanalithiumlimited 0.063 26% 204757 $8,301,341
ADG Adelong Gold Limited 0.005 25% 1917076 $8,274,707
DDT DataDot Technology 0.005 25% 75858 $4,843,811
GGE Grand Gulf Energy 0.0025 25% 975833 $5,640,850
RLG Roolife Group Ltd 0.005 25% 17000 $6,371,125
DY6 Dy6Metalsltd 0.145 23% 2492717 $8,749,344
ION Iondrive Limited 0.044 22% 4322377 $42,582,108
RPG Raptis Group Limited 0.086 21% 45247 $24,898,625
TAT Tartana Minerals Ltd 0.035 21% 138499 $6,210,231
SHE Stonehorse Energy Lt 0.006 20% 1351898 $3,422,175
TSL Titanium Sands Ltd 0.006 20% 833333 $11,723,736
VMLDB Vital Metals Limited 0.08 19% 15353 $7,899,390
G50 G50Corp Ltd 0.155 19% 135148 $20,877,696
Making news…
Latitude 66 (ASX:LAT) is offloading its 17.5% interest in the Greater Duchess joint venture project, triggering a right of first refusal for JV partner Carnaby Resources (ASX:CNB).
LAT is looking to sell its interest for $2m, with some conditional payments on the table of up to $4m in cash or ASX-listed shares if the project is sold within 90 days of the transaction. Latitude has also set up a $750k loan facility with Argonaut to keep the wheels greased in the meantime.
Loyal Metals (ASX:LLM) has locked down the Highway Reward copper-gold mine in Queensland, historically one of the highest-grade copper mines to operate.
There's been no new exploration on the land since 2005, and previous mining only drilled down to 220 metres for the open pit and 390 metres for the underground slope. LLM reckons modern exploration techniques will unlock the project's hidden copper and gold potential.
Terra Uranium (ASX:T88) is also expanding its mineral portfolio after acquiring Dundee Resources. Dundee is bringing the Glen Eden, Bald Nob and Deepwater projects to T88's ledger with potential for tin, tungsten, molybdenum, silver and base metals.
Glen Eden is of particular interest to Terra; it reckons it's the largest undeveloped tungsten-molybdenum project in New South Wales, host to an exploration target of 20 to 30Mt at 0.18% to 0.29% tungsten equivalent.
Surefire Resources (ASX:SRN) hit a 65-metre section of visible sulphides in its latest drilling program at the Yidby gold project, identifying new zones of quartz porphyry prospective for gold mineralisation.
SRN has fired off 284 samples for assay, encouraged by the initial indicators of progress from the 15-hole program over 1909 total metres of drilling.
ASX SMALL CAP LAGGARDS
Today's worst performing small cap stocks:
Security Name Last % Change Volume Market Cap
SKN Skin Elements Ltd 0.002 -33% 9290 $3,225,642
UBI Universal Biosensors 0.025 -29% 391300 $10,432,360
AOA Ausmon Resorces 0.0015 -25% 186447 $2,622,427
C29 C29Metalslimited 0.014 -22% 7663813 $3,135,388
MMR Mec Resources 0.004 -20% 814645 $9,248,829
PIL Peppermint Inv Ltd 0.002 -20% 100000 $5,752,724
RDN Raiden Resources Ltd 0.004 -20% 740507 $17,254,457
VHL Vitasora Health Ltd 0.032 -18% 8372418 $61,504,061
TAS Tasman Resources Ltd 0.014 -18% 444464 $4,748,997
AVD Avada Group Limited 0.1 -17% 15000 $10,192,203
AZL Arizona Lithium Ltd 0.005 -17% 754677 $31,621,887
BNL Blue Star Helium Ltd 0.005 -17% 2138225 $16,169,312
ICG Inca Minerals Ltd 0.01 -17% 4990864 $18,916,681
PRM Prominence Energy 0.0025 -17% 17500 $1,459,411
CUS Coppersearchlimited 0.016 -16% 102995 $3,018,941
FCT Firstwave Cloud Tech 0.016 -16% 1514451 $32,556,855
VMT Vmoto Limited 0.081 -16% 2426 $37,699,804
GRV Greenvale Energy Ltd 0.028 -15% 1298357 $17,964,320
AM5 Antares Metals 0.007 -13% 200000 $4,118,823
KRR King River Resources 0.007 -13% 7193441 $11,853,903
RGL Riversgold 0.0035 -13% 367757 $6,734,850
RNX Renegade Exploration 0.0035 -13% 2091683 $5,153,454
VBX VBX Limited 0.625 -12% 684883 $28,877,408
MDR Medadvisor Limited 0.075 -12% 1302096 $53,106,730
SPG Spc Global Holdings 0.3 -12% 193423 $65,613,840
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Break it Down: Trigg Minerals (ASX:TMG) takes in $12.5m strategic backing for North American antimony.
Harvest Technology Group (ASX:HTG) has subscribed for an initial $255,000 worth of convertible notes in TRU Recognition Holdings as it considers potential synergies between the respective technologies.
Pioneer Lithium (ASX:PLN) has completed the first part of a two-phase soil sampling program at the Skull Creek uranium project in the US.
Neurizon Therapeutics (ASX:NUZ) has inked a global licensing deal with Elanco Animal Health and affiliates for monepantel, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in ALS drug candidate NUZ-001.
LAST ORDERS
Lithium Universe (ASX:LU7) is extending into the solar panel recycling sector after acquiring the Microwave Joule Heating Technology through an exclusive licensing agreement with Macquarie University.
TRADING HALTS
Adavale Resources (ASX:ADD) – cap raise
Australian Pacific Coal (ASX:AQC) – Dartbrook operator update
Provaris Energy (ASX:PV1) – cap raise
Rimfire Pacific Mining (ASX:RIM) – arbitration announcement
TruScreen Group (ASX:TRU) – cap raise
Zimi Limited (ASX:ZMM) – cap raise
At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While Lithium Universe is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.

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Daily Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
The Sell: Lingerie queen finds bolthole at Circular Quay
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Honey Birdette lingerie founder Eloise Monaghan and her wife, interior stylist and photographer Rebecca Collinson-Smith, have bought themselves a bolthole in Sydney. It's the first purchase together for the expectant couple, who have spent $6.39m at Opera Residences at Circular Quay. Their 125sq m apartment was marketed as the largest two-bedroom floorplan on the harbourside of the 2021 building developed by Landream and Macrolink to a design by Tzannes Architects and Crone Partners, with interiors by Make. The apartment has views towards the Harbour Bridge from its open-plan living and dining area. Its shared facilities include a pool, spa, gym plus a wine storage room. Grant Ashby at Sydney Cove Property noted on the late-2024 listing that the near-new apartment had never been lived in. Honey Birdette founder Eloise Monaghan and her wife, photographer Rebecca Collinson-Smith, have bought a bolthole in Sydney. Picture: The couple spent $6.39m on the largest two-bedroom floorplan on the harbourside of Opera Residences at Circular Quay. Picture: Records show it first sold for $5.9m in 2022 and then $6.35m just 10 months later. Their ownership is divided 78 per cent with Monaghan and 22 per cent with Collinson-Smith, who hails from Minnamurra on the NSW Illawarra coast. Monaghan, who sold the lingerie company in 2021 to PLBY, the company behind Playboy magazine, married Collinson-Smith in Sydney last December with Graeme Collinson-Smith, father of the bride, as the marriage celebrant. The couple have recently collaborated in launching Collinson-Smith's swim and resort-wear brand Hunting Hue which has an outlet in The Rocks. Monaghan is now the founder and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles-based Blonde Velvet (BVRGRP), a global investment company for luxury brands. Rebecca Collinson-Smith and Eloise Monaghan. Picture: Supplied Monaghan's former Surry Hills abode, bought in 2020 by then wife Natalie Johnson for $3,025,000 from F45's Marc Marano, was sold last month, at an undisclosed price. Back in 2020, Oxford Real Estate's Matt Marano had been guiding $2.6m when The Wentworth Courier reported the duo had 'fallen in love' with the three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment before its first open. This time it took 82 days to sell through TRG, who'd given $4.2m guidance for the 250sq m space. atop a 1910 Reservoir St building near Central Station with a north-facing 70sq m entertainers' balcony. Monaghan and Johnson also recently sold their SJB-designed Potts Point investment apartment for $2m. The Ida, Brougham St apartment cost $1.6m in 2016. Monaghan, who founded the Honey Birdette label in Brisbane's West End in 2006 with then girlfriend Janelle Barboza, owned 15 per cent of the company and collected about $66m in cash and shares in the $440m PLBY deal. Retail entrepreneurs Brett Blundy and Ray Itaoui were the substantial shareholders. RABBITOH BOUNCES BRISSIE PAD FOR NEW DEAL South Sydney Rabbitohs star Jack Wighton has sold his longtime Brisbane investment apartment for $650,000. It is understood that Wighton is redirecting his equity into another new-build investment opportunity. Wighton bought the Newstead apartment off the plan in 2016, paying $445,000 when he was four years into his 11-year stint at the Canberra Raiders. McGrath Bulimba agent Sam Battel sold the apartment to an investor within three weeks of its listing last month. NRL star Jack Wighton has sold his Brisbane investment apartment. Picture: The one-bedroom Ajax apartment was pitched at both owner-occupiers and investors, but marketed as a 'high-demand rental opportunity'. The $620-a-week lease in place until August next year, so reflecting a 4.96 per cent yield for the 54sq m unit that has an open-plan living kitchen and dining space, a study area, and a balcony. PropTrack puts the one-bedroom median at $585,000, up 15 per cent over the past year after 105 sales that spent a median 35 days on market. PropTrack calculates the median yield as 5.1 per cent. Jack Wighton, Monisha Lew Fatt and their young girls Picture: Instagram Wighton had bought it direct from developer two years before completion. It is set in the $195m complex of four buildings, developed by JGL Properties just a few blocks back from the Brisbane River. The Bureau Proberts-designed complex has communal facilities including two barbecue zones, an outdoor cinema, a 25m lap pool, spa, gym and sauna. Wighton retains the home he bought with wife Monisha Lew-Fatt for $1,135,000 in 2020. The 3.36ha regional NSW estate, just off the Old Federal Highway at Bywong, has a 1970s home with six bedrooms. Having grown up in Orange, Wighton, 32, made his debut for the Raiders in 2012. He left after 242 games, and has played 32 games since joining the Rabbitohs. COURT THWARTS WATERHOUSE GARAGE ALTERATION The extension plans of estranged bookmaking family scion David Waterhouse for his soon-to-be-sold Rose Bay property have been scuppered by a 26,000-word NSW Land & Environment Court judgment. Justice Sarah Pritchard ruled that a 2007 development consent granted by Woollahra Council for 'alterations and additions to existing garage/studio' had lapsed in 2012 and could not be relied upon by Waterhouse, who bought the 1929 Spanish Mission property in 2020 for $10.25m from retired medical entrepreneur Robert Gregg. David Waterhouse's Villa Biscaya at Rose Bay. Picture: The court matter reviewed whether works had physically been commenced by Gregg and whether conditions that required compliance prior to the work being undertaken had been met by Trico Constructions, which went into liquidation in 2017. There were 56 prior judgments cited as Waterhouse's neighbour, Mincong Huang, successfully sought to stop the latest reincarnation of the garaging at Villa Biscaya. Waterhouse, as the first respondent, had costs awarded against him. David Waterhouse. Woollahra Council and Michael Rothner, who is due to settle its reputed $26m purchase later this month following his June 2023 exchange, were the second and third respondent with submitting appearances. The triumphant counsel was Nick Eastman SC, instructed by McCullough Robertson Lawyers. They defeated the arguments put by Francis Douglas KC. Between 2012 and 2024, the originating Tivoli Ave development consent has been subject to four applications, which Huang referenced as 'modification creep'. The judgment referenced that 'it was more than 17 years since the 2007 development consent was granted, and that council had lost a large part of its file'. 'The onus is on the first respondent (Waterhouse) to prove that a dilapidation report and survey report were provided prior to the commencement of any of the work relied on by the first respondent carried out in June 2012 for the purpose of establishing physical commencement of the 2007 development consent. 'The first respondent has failed to discharge that onus,' it ruled. EX-SEVEN MAN'S EXIT FROM 'CHIC OASIS' The Los Angeles-based former Seven Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell is selling his Clovelly apartment. Pell, who spent nearly two decades at Seven before departing the channel last year, has $1.5m expectations. Former Seven Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell is selling in Clovelly. Picture: He made the move to the US in 2022, staying initially with Seven as their senior vice-president for entertainment and content in North America. Sunday Confidential revealed last year he was working as an executive producer for Merit Street, a cable TV and streaming network launched by Dr Phil McGraw. Michael Pell. Picture: X/Twitter Last week, Dr Phil's network filed for bankruptcy saying its partner Trinity Broadcasting had reneged on a joint-venture agreement and the channel was going off air. PPD's Thomas Heath and Marcus Licastro have an August 2 auction for the listing, which garnered over 1000 page views in its first week on Less than 300m from the beach, the two-bedroom apartment is marketed as a 'chic oasis set quietly back from the street'. Spanning 70sq m, with a balcony, on the top floor of a mid-1960s block, Pell paid $1.4m in 2021. The agents are suggesting it could rent at $1000 per week for an investor. The expectations are slightly below the median two-bedroom apartment price in Clovelly that sits at $1,725,500, based on 17 sales, according to PropTrack. Pell spent 18 years at Sunrise and is credited for the show's continued success. PADDO SALE ADDS TO WINTER RUSH Jason Entwistle, the director of strategic development at ASX-listed wealth management platform Hub24, and his wife, Julie, have sold in Paddington. They are whispered to have accepted $5.34m before last weekend's scheduled auction for their four-bedroom, two-bathroom Regent St terrace. Jason Entwistle, the director of strategic development at ASX-listed wealth management platform Hub24, and his wife, Julie have sold in Paddington. Picture: It had been marketed with $5.25m hopes through Sotheby's International. Jason Entwistle. Picture: Hub24 There has been an unseasonably high winter sales tally, with seven terraces sales over the past week priced between $3.42m on Hopewell St and $7.5m on Roylston St for a modernist design by Ian Moore Architects. The highest Paddington sale so far this year was when an Alec Tzannes-designed home was sold by the Profusion Group founder Rodney Jones for $13.25m to commercial lawyer Justine Isemonger. The median Paddington terrace price sits at $3.5m, up 10 per cent annually after 210 sales, according to PropTrack. There is a 50-day median time on market. The Entwistle's are off to Darling Point where they were the $20m buyers of the 1915 six-bedroom Hampden Ave home sold by designer Collette Dinnigan. It had formerly been a $6500-a-week rental. $900K SECURES REBUILD BLOCK A burnt-out Busby residence has been bought for $900,000 by the Zakir family, which has plans to rebuild on the 600sq m block. Marney East of Richard Matthews had 44 registered bidders in attendance at the recent onsite Aberdeen Rd auction. There were 99 contracts issued. Bidding opened at $720,000, above the $660,000 reserve price having last sold in 2018 for $702,000. BUYER TIES UP BOAT HOUSE The Boat House at Curl Curl has sold, fetching within its adjusted $10.5 million to $11.5 million price guide through Christie's International. Known locally as the The Longboard, after its design by Mark Hurcum of MHDP Architects, it had hit market with $12 million to $13 million expectations in February. The near-new four-level Carrington Pde home was built after Rob Tucker bought the site for $3.26 million in 2017. EX-SOCCEROO SCORES A SALE Former Socceroo and English Premier League midfielder Aaron Mooy has sold his Ewingsdale, Byron Bay home, which was bought from property developer Terry Agnew for $3.6 million in September 2023. It has been sold for an undisclosed price, but was listed last November with a guide of $3 million to $3.3 million. Agnew had paid $3.5 million in 2021. Got a property news tip? Email

News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Historic': Sydney rail strikes end as unions vote to accept pay rise
Rail unions have voted to accept the NSW government's pay offer, ending the bitter dispute and giving Sydneysiders a break following months-long widespread chaos on the train network. On Saturday at 4pm, 11,735 union members participated in the vote, with 92 per cent voting in favour of the government's proposed 12 per cent pay rise over the next three years. The unions initially sought a 32 per cent pay rise over three years and a 35-hour working week, which was met by a proposed 9.5 per cent rise over the same time frame. The Electrical Trade Unions (ETU) was the only union to not back the proposed Enterprise Agreement, with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) endorsing the proposed pay increase. The agreements signals an end to the industrial action that triggered pandemonium for Sydney commuters for several months, with hundreds of services cancelled or delayed since September, leaving them stranded or crammed inside crowded carriages for hours on end. The Fair Work Commission ordered the unions halt their industrial action in February, with the order lifted from July 1. NSW Minister for Transport said the agreement would offer a sigh of relief to commuters. 'We want to acknowledge the period of protected industrial action was drawn-out and took its toll on rail passengers,' he said. 'Resolution of the matter will now allow Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink to focus solely on improving reliability and services for those more than a million passengers who use the network each day. 'We will continue to invest record amounts into improved maintenance and work to our plan to lift reliability.' Despite not reaching the initially proposed figure, the RTBU said the agreement was 'historic' and an 'epic effort' from the 'bargaining team: 'This result is a powerful demonstration of the strength, unity, and determination of RTBU members in the face of a very difficult and, at times, exhausting campaign, you stood together, and it made all the difference,' the statement read. 'Congratulations to every member who participated in actions, attended meetings, had conversations with their colleagues, stood strong, and demanded better. 'We will now move to the next steps of formal approval,' the union added.


The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Pacific-Aust 'commonality' important in uncertain times
Anthony Albanese has hailed the importance of personal relationships with Pacific nations at a time when other powers are seeking to increase their influence. The prime minister, who will host Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka when the Wallabies take on Fiji in their one-off Rugby Union Test in Newcastle on Sunday, reiterated the importance of soft diplomacy in the region. "Relationships between nations essentially come down to relationships between people," he told ABC Radio on Saturday. "It is a great way in which our nations can show our commonality. We are all members of the Pacific family." Australia has provided $10 million over seven years for the Fijian Drua women's and men's teams in the Super Rugby Pacific and Australia Super W competitions. Some $600 million over a decade for a PNG NRL team had also cemented the relationship between the two neighbouring nations, Mr Albanese said. He said investments in sports were linked with education and economic development, resulting in better health outcomes and stronger, more secure and smarter Pacific populations. At a time when the United States is pulling away and China and Russia are trying to increase their influence, the prime minister stressed the importance of positioning Australia as the partner of choice. "We have a considerable defence and security presence throughout the Pacific and that's very much, in these uncertain times, in Australia's interests," he said. "One of the ways that we cement that is through those personal relations." Mr Albanese was keen to highlight Australia's upgraded defence and security relationships with Fiji, PNG, Tuvalu, Nauru and other smaller nations in the Pacific. "We are family and we assist each other as friends, not with strings attached," he said. "What we do is we help each other out because of our common interests and our common values." Mr Rabuka met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House in Canberra earlier this week. In a keynote address at the National Press Club on Wednesday, he spoke glowingly of bilateral ties between Suva and Canberra in a deteriorating world. "Unfortunately for now, I contest the region's outlook is more uncertain than at any time since Fiji's independence in 1970," he said. "Perhaps we have reached a point in our Fiji-Australia relationship where a renewed and elevated Vuvale partnership needs a further step-up to an agreement for a treaty." Anthony Albanese has hailed the importance of personal relationships with Pacific nations at a time when other powers are seeking to increase their influence. The prime minister, who will host Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka when the Wallabies take on Fiji in their one-off Rugby Union Test in Newcastle on Sunday, reiterated the importance of soft diplomacy in the region. "Relationships between nations essentially come down to relationships between people," he told ABC Radio on Saturday. "It is a great way in which our nations can show our commonality. We are all members of the Pacific family." Australia has provided $10 million over seven years for the Fijian Drua women's and men's teams in the Super Rugby Pacific and Australia Super W competitions. Some $600 million over a decade for a PNG NRL team had also cemented the relationship between the two neighbouring nations, Mr Albanese said. He said investments in sports were linked with education and economic development, resulting in better health outcomes and stronger, more secure and smarter Pacific populations. At a time when the United States is pulling away and China and Russia are trying to increase their influence, the prime minister stressed the importance of positioning Australia as the partner of choice. "We have a considerable defence and security presence throughout the Pacific and that's very much, in these uncertain times, in Australia's interests," he said. "One of the ways that we cement that is through those personal relations." Mr Albanese was keen to highlight Australia's upgraded defence and security relationships with Fiji, PNG, Tuvalu, Nauru and other smaller nations in the Pacific. "We are family and we assist each other as friends, not with strings attached," he said. "What we do is we help each other out because of our common interests and our common values." Mr Rabuka met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House in Canberra earlier this week. In a keynote address at the National Press Club on Wednesday, he spoke glowingly of bilateral ties between Suva and Canberra in a deteriorating world. "Unfortunately for now, I contest the region's outlook is more uncertain than at any time since Fiji's independence in 1970," he said. "Perhaps we have reached a point in our Fiji-Australia relationship where a renewed and elevated Vuvale partnership needs a further step-up to an agreement for a treaty." Anthony Albanese has hailed the importance of personal relationships with Pacific nations at a time when other powers are seeking to increase their influence. The prime minister, who will host Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka when the Wallabies take on Fiji in their one-off Rugby Union Test in Newcastle on Sunday, reiterated the importance of soft diplomacy in the region. "Relationships between nations essentially come down to relationships between people," he told ABC Radio on Saturday. "It is a great way in which our nations can show our commonality. We are all members of the Pacific family." Australia has provided $10 million over seven years for the Fijian Drua women's and men's teams in the Super Rugby Pacific and Australia Super W competitions. Some $600 million over a decade for a PNG NRL team had also cemented the relationship between the two neighbouring nations, Mr Albanese said. He said investments in sports were linked with education and economic development, resulting in better health outcomes and stronger, more secure and smarter Pacific populations. At a time when the United States is pulling away and China and Russia are trying to increase their influence, the prime minister stressed the importance of positioning Australia as the partner of choice. "We have a considerable defence and security presence throughout the Pacific and that's very much, in these uncertain times, in Australia's interests," he said. "One of the ways that we cement that is through those personal relations." Mr Albanese was keen to highlight Australia's upgraded defence and security relationships with Fiji, PNG, Tuvalu, Nauru and other smaller nations in the Pacific. "We are family and we assist each other as friends, not with strings attached," he said. "What we do is we help each other out because of our common interests and our common values." Mr Rabuka met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House in Canberra earlier this week. In a keynote address at the National Press Club on Wednesday, he spoke glowingly of bilateral ties between Suva and Canberra in a deteriorating world. "Unfortunately for now, I contest the region's outlook is more uncertain than at any time since Fiji's independence in 1970," he said. "Perhaps we have reached a point in our Fiji-Australia relationship where a renewed and elevated Vuvale partnership needs a further step-up to an agreement for a treaty." Anthony Albanese has hailed the importance of personal relationships with Pacific nations at a time when other powers are seeking to increase their influence. The prime minister, who will host Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka when the Wallabies take on Fiji in their one-off Rugby Union Test in Newcastle on Sunday, reiterated the importance of soft diplomacy in the region. "Relationships between nations essentially come down to relationships between people," he told ABC Radio on Saturday. "It is a great way in which our nations can show our commonality. We are all members of the Pacific family." Australia has provided $10 million over seven years for the Fijian Drua women's and men's teams in the Super Rugby Pacific and Australia Super W competitions. Some $600 million over a decade for a PNG NRL team had also cemented the relationship between the two neighbouring nations, Mr Albanese said. He said investments in sports were linked with education and economic development, resulting in better health outcomes and stronger, more secure and smarter Pacific populations. At a time when the United States is pulling away and China and Russia are trying to increase their influence, the prime minister stressed the importance of positioning Australia as the partner of choice. "We have a considerable defence and security presence throughout the Pacific and that's very much, in these uncertain times, in Australia's interests," he said. "One of the ways that we cement that is through those personal relations." Mr Albanese was keen to highlight Australia's upgraded defence and security relationships with Fiji, PNG, Tuvalu, Nauru and other smaller nations in the Pacific. "We are family and we assist each other as friends, not with strings attached," he said. "What we do is we help each other out because of our common interests and our common values." Mr Rabuka met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House in Canberra earlier this week. In a keynote address at the National Press Club on Wednesday, he spoke glowingly of bilateral ties between Suva and Canberra in a deteriorating world. "Unfortunately for now, I contest the region's outlook is more uncertain than at any time since Fiji's independence in 1970," he said. "Perhaps we have reached a point in our Fiji-Australia relationship where a renewed and elevated Vuvale partnership needs a further step-up to an agreement for a treaty."