The Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Peter V’landys has proposed a new plan to encourage NRL stars to move to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in a bid to ‘earn double’ and grant them a tax-free status.
According to The Daily Telegraph, V’landys has pitched the proposal to the Albanese government, claiming it would be part of the governing body’s expansion strategy, which could include an 18th team in the Pacific.
“One of the areas I will be approaching the government on is in order to make it attractive to go over there, we are going to ask the government that people be given tax-free status,” V’landys said.
“If you’re going to go over there and work, to encourage you to go to Papua New Guinea, you should earn that money tax-free.”
V’landys claimed his proposal would allow NRL players to have the opportunity to earn more, therefore making PNG an irresistible option for some big names in the NRL.
The NRL aims to push the plans for expansion in either 2026 or 2027 and has revealed that PNG will be the franchise to join the competition.
Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, announced that he backed V’landys’ plan to expand the NRL to a 20-team competition last week.
The government further declared to commit $600 million to a team in the Pacific, as part of a ‘soft diplomacy’ strategy into the region.
“I am very supportive of an 18th NRL team in PNG,” Mr Albanese said. “This is a game changer for the relationship with Papua New Guinea.”
V’landys said the expansion to Papua New Guinea will happen in the next “two or three years.”
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
