ADAM STEPHEN, HOST: A Queensland Rugby League club could end up being kicked out of all statewide competitions after a decision not to play in Papua New Guinea this Saturday. The PNG club has been part of the Queensland Cup since 2014. But the club hasn't played a home game in Port Moresby in about three years due to security concerns amid ongoing civil unrest and high rates of COVID-19 and now Foot and Mouth Disease. The QRL, though, has now deemed travel safe and issued a statement saying that the Cutters refusal to play, to make the journey, is considered a breach of its participation agreement. The club now faces suspension from all statewide competitions and will have to show cause as to why it should be involved in next year's competition. We haven't been able to get the Cutters or the QRL to front up for an interview this afternoon to explain their position on this and why this determination has been made. But someone that was happy to share his views is the Prime Minister of Australia. And he's talking here with the ABCs Tegan Philpot.
PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: Well, it is an important debate because for Papua New Guinea, rugby league is an absolute passion. And it would be really unfortunate if after what the Hunters have done for a couple of years – away from their families, away from their country, spending time there in Queensland participating in the competition. If at the first occasion they've had to host a game, a sell out with 10,000 people very passionate about watching the Cutters play there in PNG – if the game doesn't go ahead. That would be really unfortunate.
TEAGAN PHILPOTT, JOURNALIST: Last week they were due to host Burleigh, that game was moved to the Gold Coast. Before then it was deemed that it wasn't safe for Townsville to go. Why this game? Why now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well there were some issues in PNG during the election campaign. It now has changed circumstances and I'm very confident that the game can go ahead. I spoke just a short while ago with the re-elected Prime Minister James Marape. He's very keen to see the Cutters there. He said to me he would personally be there providing them with support, and he wants to see it go ahead. The people of PNG want to see it go ahead. The Queensland Rugby League, who I spoke to this afternoon, want to see it go ahead. And I've offered, and the PNG Prime Minister has indicated his support, if there's a need for any additional security presence there, we’re available to provide any support that's necessary. But I'm very confident that the game should go ahead. And I'm very hopeful that it will.
PHILPOTT: Does that mean the Australian Government's travel advice will change? Because at the moment it says there's also unrest in Port Moresby. It also says that we should reconsider travel to Papua New Guinea overall due to the impacts of COVID 19.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is a very specific visit. And the travel advice applies to people having independent travel, travelling there for recreational activities. This is a specific visit. Just like the operation of the rugby league competitions that occurred during the COVID pandemic, measures can be put in place to make sure that people's health is looked after. And that's why I think the game should go ahead. The PNG team has been an important part of the Queensland Rugby League. I've said very publicly that I would like to see participation and more interaction between not just PNG and their team but also in the Pacific. This is an important way that Australia can reach out and engage with our neighbours. It would be such a disappointment if this game doesn't go ahead, and I see no reason why it can't.
PHILPOTT: You as the Prime Minister of our country have offered extra security. Has the QRL requested that or taken you up on the offer of the suggestion that you will send some troops along with our team?
PRIME MINISTER: No, there's been no request as yet. But I've said that we would be very positive should there be any request if that's what gets the Cutters across the line to go and play there. I checked with Prime Minister Marape that he would be okay with that. We do have Australian personnel there on the ground in in PNG. So the personnel are there right now, it's not a matter of any additional resources. And the truth is that Australian personnel who are there in PNG quite like going the footy, I should imagine, as well.
PHILPOTT: Has the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea also offered his support security wise.
PRIME MINISTER: He has offered his support personally, that he's available himself. He assured me that everything was safe and secure. And one of the points that he has made is that the time when Papua New Guinea stops is three times a year – there's nothing else happening in PNG except people watching State of Origin matches. They're very passionate about their rugby league.
PHILPOTT: There's no doubt that they are passionate, and there's no doubt about it, the PNG Hunters really have gone the extra mile to stay in this competition during the last few years. I guess it just comes down to, in your opinion as the Prime Minister of Australia, is it safe for our team to travel?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes it is.
PHILPOTT: If the Mackay Cutters players say ‘look, we've done the math’ or ‘we've had a look at our insurance and because there's a government advice saying not to travel’, and if they do it and say ‘we're standing our ground, we will not be travelling to PNG’ – what say you on that?
PRIME MINISTER: That is, at the end of the day, a matter for them. Obviously you can't impose your will on those matters. I’d just encourage them to satisfy themselves that it is safe to go under the circumstances. It will be a visit where they are going to a specific rugby league ground to play a rugby league game and then returning home. They can be given support for the visit. And if there's anything that the Australian government can do to assist, get them across the line and to provide them with comfort, then to reach out through the QRL. I've said to the QRL that that we would be very pleased to provide whatever support, within reason, that is necessary. But I do hope that it can go ahead.