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Fijians will wake up to a new government for the first time in 16 years after Sitiveni Rabuka closed the deal on a tripartite coalition.

The Social Liberal Democratic Party (SODELPA), whose three members held the balance of power after a hung parliament, decided on siding with Rabuka's People's Alliance after three days of negotiations.

People's Alliance billed themselves as a progressive alternative to the nationalist FijiFirst government.

It will now form government alongside the more liberal-democratic National Federation Party and Indigenous-focused SODELPA.

Rabuka said it was an honour to form a government "we hope will bring the change people have been calling out for".

National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad called it an historic outcome, saying the people had chosen "a new way, a new path and a new government".

"We know we are expected to change the style of governance," he said.

Prasad had often criticised the prime minister for dictatorial crackdowns on freedoms and the opposition.

"The leaders are pleased to be able to give the people of Fiji a Christmas present of a strong and united coalition government ready to respond to their call for change," he said.

It's the second time Rabuka will become prime minister after he seized control through a coup in 1987 before legitimising his government at a democratic election in 1992.

He remained in power until 1999.

The heads of the Liberal Democrats narrowly decided to dethrone Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, with 16 votes for People's Alliance and 14 for FijiFirst after three days of negotiations with both sides.

But Fiji's national broadcaster is reporting SODELPA's general secretary Lenaitasi Duru resigned after alleging bribery had been involved.

The party said there was no truth to the accusation and it was disappointed in a general secretary who couldn't respect the democratic decision to align with the coalition.

The decision ends Bainimarama's almost 16-year reign after he instigated a coup in 2006 and installed himself as prime minister the year after.

Bainimarama led FijiFirst to two democratic victories in 2014 and 2018 but failed to secure a majority at last week's election.

FijiFirst will command 26 seats in the expanded 55-member parliament while People's Alliance will have 21, the National Federation five and SODELPA three.

FijiFirst secured 42.5 per cent of the vote, People's Alliance 36 per cent, the National Federation Party nine per cent and SODELPA five per cent from Fiji's single constituency.

SODELPA campaigned on free tertiary education, $159 million ($A106 million) a year for Indigenous affairs and extra protections for Indigenous land rights, saying the issues were non-negotiable during talks.

The party's religiously conservative leader Viliame Gavoka had also demanded an embassy in Jerusalem during negotiations, arguing Fiji needs to lean into its Christian principles.

SODELPA vice president Anare Jale said making one of the party's three members - likely Gavoka - the deputy prime minister despite being the smallest in the coalition was also discussed with People's Alliance.

But details of the final agreement remain scarce.

Prasad said the three parties were up to working together and understood the enormity of the task despite concerns of a precarious relationship owing to the People's Alliance being a SODELPA breakaway.

Gavoka ousted Rabuka as opposition leader and the party fractured in half when nine of the remaining Liberal Democrat parliamentarians jumped ship to People's Alliance after its creation in 2021.

Former SODELPA leader Ro Teimumu Kepa warned the larger coalition partners not to try and strongarm the smaller party.

"I hope you will look after us and not try to bully us because we can be bullies too," she said.

© AAP 2022

Two Melbourne Victory fans who rushed the AAMI Park pitch, including one who allegedly hit Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover with a metal bucket, have received life bans from Football Australia.

Saturday night's violent pitch invasion at AAMI Park forced the abandonment of the A-League Men derby.

Glover suffered a concussion and facial laceration when he was hit by the bucket wielded by a pitch invader and referee Alex King was also injured in the incident.

A television cameraman was hurt after being struck by a flare while two security guards were also injured.

FA said the 23-year-old 'Bucket Man', who has already been charged by Victoria Police with violent disorder and discharging a missile, among other offences, had been found guilty of "entering the field of play without authorisation and using an item (bucket) with the intent to cause damage or harm."

A 19-year-old man had been charged by police in relation to a separate alleged assault on Glover, as well as an alleged assault on a security guard.

He has been found guilty by FA "of entering the field of play without authorisation and engaging in conduct that did or was likely to cause harm or endanger others".

"The actions of these two, and others who are of interest to us, are completely unacceptable and those people and their behaviours will never be welcome in our game," Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said in a statement, indicating there would be more bans to come.

"Football has a zero-tolerance policy to disruptive, destructive, violent, and anti-social behaviour at its sanctioned events, and it will not tolerate behaviour that has the potential to threaten the safety or security of spectators, players, and officials.

"These significant bans against these individuals are consistent with this position.

"Football Australia is working around the clock on this investigation to ensure that the scenes witnessed at AAMI Park in Melbourne are never repeated again."

The pair are banned from attending all Football Australia-sanctioned football matches, including A-Leagues, Australia Cup, NPL, Socceroos and Matildas games.

They also can no longer register as football participants.

A further five men were identified by Victoria Police on Tuesday, with another five people still outstanding.

Victory have until 9am AEDT on Wednesday to show FA why they "should not face serious sanctions for bringing the game into disrepute".

FA has made it clear it will dish out tough sanctions, with points deductions, fines and forcing Victory to play behind closed doors all options on the table.

The game's governing body also needs to decide whether the result of Saturday's derby will stand - City were leading 1-0 before the match was abandoned.

The proximity to Victory's next game - away to Western United at AAMI Park on Boxing Day - may mean FA hands out interim sanctions in the short term.

© AAP 2022

Former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd will be Australia's next ambassador to the United States and says he is "greatly honoured" to step into the role.

The appointment was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.

Mr Albanese said the former Labor leader would bring "unmatched experience" to the ambassadorship and be a major asset to the Australia-US relationship.

"Kevin Rudd is an outstanding appointment," he told reporters in Canberra.

"He brings a great deal of credit to Australia by agreeing to take up this position as a former prime minister, as a former foreign minister, as someone who's been head of the Asia Society and as someone who has links with the global community."

Dr Rudd was Australia's 26th prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and took the job again in 2013 before Labor lost government. He was foreign minister between 2010 and 2012.

He was ousted as prime minister by Julia Gillard, who was then herself ousted by Dr Rudd.

Mr Albanese was a cabinet minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments.

In a statement, Dr Rudd said he was greatly honoured by the nomination.

As head of the Asia Society, Dr Rudd has a strong knowledge of the US and China as well as having extensive links to the global community.

He has also been critical of former US president Donald Trump but in a statement about his appointment Dr Rudd said he had built relationships across the political spectrum.

"Over the past decade, I have had the pleasure of building relationships with Republicans and Democrats across politics and have developed close personal ties with American business, civil society and the media," he said.

"(Australia's) national interest continues to be served ... by the deepest and most effective strategic engagement of the United States in our region."

Liberal senator Simon Birmingham said Australia's new US ambassador would need discipline, sensitivity and drive to advance the AUKUS defence partnership.

"In appointing former prime minister Rudd, Prime Minister Albanese has personally chosen a friend and confidante, a former parliamentary and ministerial colleague and someone in whom Mr Albanese clearly has faith and confidence," Senator Birmingham said.

"Above all else, the coalition looks to (Dr) Rudd ... to deliver on Australia's national interests first and foremost."

But Mr Albanese said it was "no accident" the government had appointed two former foreign ministers as ambassadors to the UK and US as the security alliance progressed.

In September, former Labor minister Stephen Smith was announced as Australia's next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and is expected to start in the role next year.

Senator Birmingham paid tribute to the outgoing ambassador, former Liberal MP Arthur Sinodinos, who had worked across the Trump and Biden administrations.

Mr Sinodinos congratulated Dr Rudd on Twitter and said there was "plenty to get on with" as the US-Australia relationship went from strength to strength.

Dr Rudd said he looked forward to continuing the work of his predecessor to strengthen the bonds between Australia and the US.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull - who rejected Dr Rudd's bid for the role of United Nations Secretary-General in 2016 - congratulated the new ambassador and said it was a "great appointment".

Dr Rudd is expected to begin his new role in early 2023.

Mr Albanese plans to visit the US next year and President Joe Biden will travel to Australia for the Quad leaders' meeting.

© AAP 2022