Prime Minister Anthony Albanese‘s cash splash on an NRL team in Papua New Guinea has sparked internal dissent – with one Labor MP questioning why the government is prioritising the taxpayer-funded overseas spend during a cost of living crisis.
PNG PM James Marape on Tuesday dismissed safety concerns in his country as the Federal government gears up to donate $600m toward the establishment of an NRL team in Port Moresby.
Mr Marape has described the move as his ‘Mandela moment’.
‘Nelson Mandela used the Springboks and rugby union to unite his nation… the Australian government also sees that this might be the glue that sticks our nations together,’ Mr Marape said.
Mr Albanese’s Cabinet is expected to sign off on the cash splash next month – but not all Labor MPs are happy about it.
‘Is this really our priority?’ one Labor MP told Daily Mail Australia – questioning the amount of taxpayers dollars to be committed to a commercial sporting venture during the current tough economic climate.
‘I can think of lots of ways we could use that money to help struggling Aussies’, they added.
The Labor MP was also critical of the ‘three amigos’ – Albanese, Foreign minister Penny Wong and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher – for pushing the idea.
‘They are the club that makes all the decisions’, the MP claimed.
The cabinet of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with PNG PM James Marape) is expected to sign off on the cash splash next month, but not all Labor MPs are happy about it
While the PNG PM says that Australian players and their families who might be based in Port Moresby shouldn’t worry about safety concerns, the latest travel advice suggests otherwise.
The Australian government’s Smart Traveller website advises exercising ‘a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea’. It points to civil disorder which can ‘escalate quickly’.
The travel warning points to ‘the risk of violent crime and sexual assault’, noting that ‘criminals often use ‘bush knives’ (machetes) and guns (including homemade ones). Always be alert to your surroundings. Avoid going out after dark.’
Mr Marape recently gave an interview to a rugby league journalist on his private jet while flying between Goroka and Port Moresby, dismissing safety fears: ‘There should be no cause for concern’, he said.
The Australian government’s travel warning also points to ‘severe weather, heavy rains, flooding, landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis’.
In May this year a landslide in the PNG province of Enga killed as many as 600 people with the Australian government providing $4m in aid.
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape (right), has dismissed safety concerns in his country as the Australian government gears up to donate $600m of taxpayers money towards the establishment of an NRL team in Port Moresby. Pictured: Mal Meninga left, Anthony Albanese centre
The Australian government’s smart traveler website advises exercising ‘a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea’. It points to civil disorder which can ‘escalate quickly’. Pictured: The PNG capital Port Moresby
The $600m donation for a new rugby league team will help fund the building of a state of the art stadium as well as provide support for grassroots pathway programs to help nurture local rugby league talent. It is also expected to be used to beef up security for players and their families.
The government’s travel advice also notes that ‘ongoing aviation fuel shortages can disrupt domestic air travel with little or no notice’, something for supporters planning to cheer on their visiting team in PNG by traveling to the venue to consider.
The PNG PM promises to have all such concerns addressed and under control by the time a local team is part of the NRL in just over three years from now.
‘Rugby league players are treated like rock stars. Those who relocate here for our national team will be given royalty status,’ he said.
The Numbeo crime index, which ranks the world’s most dangerous cities twice yearly, recently ranked Port Morseby as the fourth most dangerous. That is where a PNG team is likely to be based and play its home games.
While the Labor government’s soon to be formalised decision to spend $600m on a PNG rugby league team comes at the expense of an increase in the JobSeeker allowance, for example, the Albanese government sees it as an important act of ‘soft diplomacy’.
The money would help ensure that PNG stays close to Australia and isn’t too influenced by a rising China that has already invested billions in the nation.