PNG’s National Rugby League Bid

PNG is reportedly set to join the NRL as its 19th team in 2028, following a $600 million expansion deal backed by the Australian federal government. While not yet officially confirmed, this would mark the largest expansion in the NRL’s 116-year history.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the ARL Commission have reportedly endorsed a 10-year funding plan to establish a self-sustaining team by 2037, with financial support directed toward both the team’s operations and broader regional development. Read more about this by visiting:

Papua New Guinea Reportedly Set to Join NRL as 19th Team in $600M Government-Backed Expansion – Ministry of Sport

NRL 2024: Papua New Guinea, Jason Demetriou, coach, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Pacific Championship, World Cup; Demetriou to take charge of Kumuls | NRL.com.

Jason Demetriou, an experienced NRL coach, has been appointed as head coach of the Kumuls. His appointment signals the continued progress of a PNG team being admitted to the NRL in the coming years.

As reported in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph on 18 September, the PNG team will be based in Port Moresby.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper in September, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Anthony Albanese, stressed the Federal Government’s funding would go beyond just a football team. ‘This is a game changer for your relationship with Papua New Guinea,’ Mr Albanese said. ‘The aim would be for any government funding to be aimed at economic development in schools. It’s not just for the NRL team.

‘It’s an important part of economic development and getting young people engaged in PNG. This is not just about sport in itself, it’s building people-to-people relationships and economic development for PNG, that’s the way the government sees it.’

The formal announcement, the paper reports, was expected to be made after the NRL Grand Final game so as not to distract from the NRL finals series. The NRL grand final was held over the October long weekend.
Patrick Bourke

Tribal Violence Near Porgera Gold Mine

This leaves at least 30, if not closer to 50, dead in clashes between rival clans leading to a state of emergency being declared. Police said the unrest started in August when ‘illegal miners’ inflicted life-threatening injuries on a landowner in the Porgera Valley. Source: ABC News

Papua New Guinea’s Wan Squad Wins World Hip Hop Dance Championship in US

PNG’s all-male hip hop crew Wan Squad made history in August 2024 putting their homeland on the map after winning the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

The group’s creative director, Pyan Ng, said their phones were ‘blowing up’, after hours of dancing on the world stage.

According to their social media Facebook page, the group offers elite training and mentorship to the PNG dance community along with a Champions Workshop to upskill participants in dance, leadership and creativity. Source: ABC News

Australian Tourists Caught up in the Kokoda Track Closure

Nauro villagers in central PNG constructed a barrier in September 2024 from logs along part of the pathway in a dispute over unpaid millions of dollars in development grants agreed to by the government.

Kokoda Track Authority’s acting chief executive, Julius Wargirai, confirmed the path would remain closed as negotiations continue. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australians to check with their tour companies for the latest information. Source: 9 News

 

 

World Bank Loan to Transform Education in PNG

A $100 million loan to PNG from the World Bank is set to transform PNG education, as the Department of Treasury has officially submitted a request for International Development Association (IDA) concessional lending.

According to PNG Secretary for Education, Dr Uke Kombra, this strategic initiative will significantly enhance educational outcomes and will be implemented in close collaboration with the Department of Education. Read more at:

A $100 Million World Bank Loan to Reshape Education in Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinea Education News (pngfacts.com)

Bougainville in 2024, Hosted by the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at ANU Canberra

On Monday, 6 September, the ANU’s Department of Pacific Affairs presented a four-hour workshop on aspects of the situation in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ABG).

This hybrid event included, amongst others, presentations from Dennis Kuiai (Deputy Secretary, Law and Justice Department, ABG), Theonila Roka Matbob (member for Ioro Constituency covering Panguna area), and James Tanis (former ABG President).

I attended through a Zoom link and found it extremely informative. If you wish to watch the four-hour recording of the Bougainville Update Workshop that ran on 6 September 2024, please email me on editor@pngaa.net and I’ll send you the hyperlink.
Christine Leonard

Lae Secondary School Robotics Team Competes on the World Stage

Lae Secondary Robotics team of five left from Nadzab airport on 17 September to travel to Athens, Greece, for the World Robotics Challenge. As the only Secondary School in the country with an active Robotics program, this is the 5th time Lae Secondary has represented PNG at the World Robotics Challenge. The theme for 2024 was ‘Feeding the Future’, so students had to design the robots to demonstrate this theme.

The team finished 78 out of 180 countries and territories taking part. Last year, the team finished 43rd, even knocking out heavyweights Japan in the earlier rounds. Japan would go on to finish 112th-ranked.

PNG Visas

Someone recently reported having gone through a very stressful and complicated process of applying for a visa to visit Papua New Guinea. Basically, they were scammed.

As an Australian Passport holder, you will require an approved visa before entering Papua New Guinea. The only place to get a PNG visa is PNG’s Immigration & Citizenship Services Authority (ICA) site: https://ica.gov.pg/visa

PNG Olympic Weightlifter

Dika Toua claimed gold following her debut in the 2024 United Masters Weightlifting Championship in Suva, Fiji. Competing in the women’s 40–44 age group (50 kg division), the 40-year-old athlete lifted 68 kg in the snatch and 90 kg in the clean and jerk. Information from PNG Haus Bung’s website.