Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has doubled down on threats to leave Super Rugby, unless it is promised a "50-50 joint venture" with New Zealand.
McLennan has previously confirmed Australia's participation will run through 2023, but it may pull out and explore a domestic competition thereafter.
"We'll honour our commitments in 2023, but we need to see what's best for rugby in Australia, leading up to the RWC [World Cup] in Australia in 2027," McLennan told Australian broadcaster Fox Sports. "All bets are off from 2024 onwards with New Zealand."
NZ Rugby reportedly earns NZ$97.68 million (AU$89m) per year from broadcast rights for the tournament, while RA receives NZ$36.2m (AU$33m) from Nine Network and Nine's streaming platform Stan in a broadcast deal that expires at the end of 2023.
McLennan has revealed he hopes Australia stays in Super Rugby beyond next year, but only if their demands are met.
"We're very open to an aligned global calendar in the men's game and are talking to World Rugby about how best to achieve that end goal," he wrote in British-based Rugby World magazine.
"As for Super Rugby, common sense will hopefully prevail, but for it to work, it needs to be an equal partnership,
"Let's not forget, Australia has a much larger economy and five times the population of New Zealand. It's not been an equal partnership and gone are the days when New Zealand can dictate the terms of everything.
"There are cracks in the system and they need us more than ever. We won't participate unless it's a 50-50 joint venture.
"I want to be able to build a strong rugby ecosystem that will live for a long, long time."
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie hopes Australia will stay in Super Rugby, insisting it will be integral to their lead-up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
"I've made it pretty clear in the past, I think it's good for both countries that we play trans-Tasman footie," he said.
"I think the competition has been excellent this year and our sides have certainly been more competitive. It's good for them, it's good for us and I'd like to see that continue.
"They've got some of the best players in the world. You want to be playing the best players.
"That's how we will get better and be challenged, so it's important."
