Journalist: Would someone please clarify exactly who is going to own this team and the breakdown of ownership?
Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Chair, Peter V'landys: I can do that for you. This will be owned by the people of Papua New Guinea (PNG), the team will be a member based team. So every person in PNG will be a member, its their team, and we want them to embrace their team. And the best way for them to embrace their team is to have a membership model.
Journalist: I understand there has been security concerns for the players potentially signing for a PNG team, and also I understand the NRL has been working on players tax exemptions for signing with the PNG team. Do you think the PNG team will be ready by 2028 for entering into the NRL.
ARLC Chair, Peter V'landys: Absolutely we have looked at some sites today, for the accommodation. We have looked at the centre for excellence and we're very impressed with what is available. We're going to make this a resort style area for our players and their wives, so they are going to be on a permanent holiday when they are over here. Except for when they play and train. Otherwise, they are going to take the natural beauty of PNG and enjoy it, because it is a beautiful country, and they will enjoy it in a resort style.
We were very impressed with the restaurants and hospitality areas we saw today, they are all modern, and probably the best coffee I've ever had. The Fuzzy Wuzzy coffee, if anyone wants to have a good coffee. We're very confident we are going to attract some marquee players.
And having the tax exemption is very important because that will motivate those players to bring their families over to PNG to play. We want to get some of the best players, because I have assured the Prime Minister that they will be in the top eight in the very first year. So, we are going to make sure we get some of the good players to come over here.
Journalist: Based on reports from Australian media outlets regarding PNG's NRL license, there is a ‘get out' clause for the Australian Government. In that, it can terminate PNG's NRL license should PNG sign a security or policy pact with China or any other nation that is perceived to be a rival to Australia. Are you able to confirm or deny if such a clause exists in this agreement?
ARLC Chair, Peter V'landys: Look there is a clause that does say that in our agreement. That it could be terminated if there is a termination of the security agreement. But our friends here, which are the best neighbours in the world, would never ever do anything that would require us to terminate the agreement.
Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy: And let me just add on behalf of the Australian Government. We are incredibly reassured by the statements from Prime Minister Marape that he has made in the Prime Minister's court yard in Australia, in Canberra, as well as up here. That PNG is intent on partnering with its traditional security partners, with Australia.
As Prime Minister Marape said in his own remarks, Australians and Papua New Guineans fought side by side in WW2, we're four kilometres apart, we've signed a bilateral security agreement through the leadership of Prime Minister Marape and Prime Minister Albanese. We are negotiating a defence treaty right now, this very moment.
So, the security future of both countries is intwined together very closely.
Prime Minister, James Marape: It is in our shared interest that we have a security that is working side by side. We are not far apart. We are close by. At the moment we are working on a bilateral security treaty with Australia. That will take precedence over any other security arrangements…[INDISTINCT]…we cannot compromise security. Security is deeply entrenched in this …[INDISTINCT]…
Journalist: My question is for Peter V'landys, how confident are you that the PNG board appointees can cope with the various demands of an NRL competition, both on and off the field…[INDISTINCT]…
ARLC Chair, Peter V'landys: Well today the PM announced a very high-powered board, some of the top business people from PNG. Most of them are residents of PNG. They know the business sector here, they know the ecosystems here. We're very confident in their ability to deliver. As I said they will be very competitive in their very first year.
What we did this year, the Prime Minister just reminded me, as part of the salary cap, we have exempted PNG players. So, every club can have two PNG players without having to put it on the salary cap. Which is very important, because every club has got $12 million salary cap, they can't spend more than that, unless it gets two PNG players.
And last year, who could forget, the marvellous PNG school boys' side who drew with Australia. Now from my perspective the Australian school boys' side has always been very powerful and has always brought the elite players. Most of the first-grade players in the NRL system came through the school boys system. And for the PNG team to draw with them is an extraordinary event. If that is an example of the future PNG will dominate. That's what we're worried about. We're not worried about them being competitive, we're worried about them dominating. Because they could be, as Minister Conroy said, they could be the next Penrith easily.
You've got 12 million people that you can call upon in juniors etcetera, and our job here at the moment is to produce those players. So, we're going to put former players into the schools, we're going to start local competitions, we're going to entice young kids to go to school and give them an opportunity to play in the NRL.
They should have an ambition and now they have thanks to Prime Minister Marape. I've never come across a more can-do person than the Prime Minister here. You are very lucky to have him. What he says, he does. His word is his bond. And the pressure is on us now to deliver for this great man.