PNG NRL Tax

Question

ACTING CHAIR: On the tax concessions for the salaries for the players-is that part of the $350 million? Is that where that is allocated in the budget, or would that be separate? Ms Blundell: One of PNG government's contributions to the project is that they passed legislation in December 2024 that meant that the PNG chiefs wouldn't pay income tax in PNG. It's an incentive that PNG put forward. The amendments I think you're referring to-are you referring to the Australian measure? ACTING CHAIR: Yes. Ms Blundell: That has gone through so that we don't collect tax revenues and undermine what PNG has done. But only income earned from the PNG chiefs will be exempt from Australian tax. There's a small forecast budget loss as a result of that measure, and that'll be borne by our portfolio. ACTING CHAIR: Do you have any idea what that might be? Ms Blundell: It's forecast at $5.4 million over the forward estimates. I'm just, perhaps, going on too long- ACTING CHAIR: That's okay. Ms Blundell: but it's the effect of the away games, essentially, that we had to address. ACTING CHAIR: 2028 is getting pretty close. Are we on track to have the compound ready and to have the stadium ready? Is there a contingency plan to play in Townsville-that sort of thing? Ms Blundell: There's no contingency plan. We're still full steam ahead, and the board and the franchise are full steam ahead. Definitely, the team will enter the competition in 2028. That's what everyone involved is working towards. ACTING CHAIR: Of the $600 million altogether, how much of that is actually going through ODA? Ms Blundell: It's $120 million, I'm pretty sure. Yes, $120 million of the $600 million is ODA. ACTING CHAIR: You mentioned that there was about a $5.4 million loss over the forwards. Are you having to reprioritise anything else to be able to cover that loss? Ms Blundell: I might need to ask the CFO about the offsets, if she has an answer. Otherwise, I might need to take that on notice. Senator Wong: We can take that on notice. ACTING CHAIR: The CFO was just coming up. She wants to- Senator Wong: Does she want to? You can read her mind? She can read your mind. ACTING CHAIR: I don't believe that's an option, Minister. Ms Blundell: Can I take it on notice just to check?

Answer

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