Sports Minister Hon. Don Polye says Post-Courier must prove that 72 politicians and department heads visited Brisbane for the Prime Minister’s XIII rugby league match on Sunday, as it claimed in a false and defamatory story this week.
“The Post-Courier continues its campaign of lies and deceit against Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and his Government,” an angry Minister Polye said.
“The report unnecessarily generated so much hatred against the Government of the day.
“Post-Courier must not peddle lies and deceit that it is very well known for.
“Half of Parliament – 59 MPs – did not attend the game.
“Can Post-Courier provide all the names?
“As far as I know, only four ministers were in Brisbane on State business with PM Marape.
“Other MPs and ministers may have traveled to watch the game, but it was at their own cost, and was way below the 72 that the Post-Courier lied to the nation about.”
Minister Polye said the Prime Minister’s XIII was more than a rugby league match as the Post-Courier seemed to think.
“This was not just a rugby league match attendance, but using sports diplomacy to have bilateral meetings between the prime ministers and ministers of our two countries,” he said.
“Aspects of Australia-PNG relationships discussed were PNG citizens being educated and employed in Australia, immigration and border security, our trade and export focuses.
“Of course, sports featured in our discussions, including establishing contact at the highest level of NRL bid processes for PNG to have a team in the NRL.
“From what I know, this will set the basis for the next Australia-PNG Ministerial Meeting in Canberra, and the Australia Prime Minister’s visit to PNG later this year.”
