PM John Howard (right) chats to national team skipper Ricky Ponting

Australia are due to play three one-day games in Zimbabwe in September, but the government is opposed to the trip.

"We would indemnify Cricket Australia for any compensation it might have to pay," said prime minister John Howard.

"It would not be fair to visit the cost of a foreign policy decision on a sporting body."

He continued: "In the end, foreign policy decisions have got to be taken by governments and the situation in Zimbabwe is quite unacceptable."

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Australia last played in Zimbabwe in 2004, a tour which was boycotted by spin bowler Stuart MacGill.

And he has already spoken out against this year's tour, which is scheduled as part of the International Cricket Council's Future Tours Programme.

"There are some issues there and every individual player will be asked what their own views on that are, and they'll have a chance to make up their own mind what they want to do," captain Ricky Ponting told The Australian newspaper.

"I'm sure every individual player will be asking 'should I or shouldn't I be touring Zimbabwe?'

"Cricket Australia will investigate the safety and security issues but the players have got some serious questions to ask themselves."

The only way Cricket Australia could avoid an ICC fine for failing to fulfil their obligations, which could be as much as $2m, is if the tour was cancelled for security reasons.

But the national government, which has been strongly critical of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's regime, believes it should have the final say.