Hanson Decries $600 Million NRL Funding to PNG NRL Team as Burden on Australian Taxpayers

​Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson/Photo :Pauline Hanson

​Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has voiced strong objections to the government's pledge of approximately AUD 600 million (over 1.4 billion kina) for establishing a new NRL team in Papua New Guinea.

Addressing the Australian Federal Senate, the One Nation Senator argued that this generous funding comes at a significant cost to Australians, noting that it is in addition to the nearly AUD 500 million (around 1.2 billion kina) allocated annually to PNG as foreign aid.

"Apart from the annual aid, Australia has also provided PNG with AUD 2.56 billion in budget support loans since 2020," Hanson stated. "Our supporters are questioning the necessity of a PNG-based team in the NRL. More critically, Australians struggling with the rising cost of living under Labor's policies are justifiably outraged at the government’s decision to allocate AUD 600 million to a foreign football team."

Hanson highlighted the potential domestic benefits of this funding, asking, "How many new nurses and doctors could this money fund in regional Queensland? How much could it support mental health or drug rehabilitation services?"

She further condemned the Albanese Labor government for prioritizing foreign interests over Australian needs. "This is another example of the government putting foreign interests ahead of our own," Hanson remarked.

The Senator called for a reassessment of Australia's relationship with PNG, especially as the nation approaches its 50th Independence anniversary next year. She suggested that it might be time for PNG to stand independently, without relying on Australian aid.

"With Papua New Guinea celebrating 50 years of independence from Australia next year, it's the ideal moment for us to reconsider our relationship with our closest neighbor and allow them to manage without our aid," Hanson said. "However, we must consider PNG's ability to handle its endemic corruption and resist influences from communist China. We should focus on addressing the urgent needs of Australians rather than funding low-priority foreign initiatives like a football team."

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