The federal budget is a key date in the Australian political calendar, with the government allocating billions of dollars.
Among the key focuses are fuel resilience, tax cuts and hospital funding as the budget is used to shape where they will focus their energy.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made sure that his beloved NRL has not been forgotten in his latest iteration.
Among the NRL issues included in the budget is tax exemptions for the players and staff with the incoming PNG Chiefs.
The Australian government’s move ensures those tax breaks will cost $5.4m over the next four years.
‘The government will amend the tax law to ensure that income tax exemptions provided by Papua New Guinea for players and staff of the PNG Chiefs National Rugby League team operate as intended. This will decrease receipts by $5.4m over four years from 2026–27,’ budget papers noted on Tuesday.
Anthony Albanese made sure to allocate a significant portion of the budget to his beloved NRL
Albanese has has long been a regular attendee of South Sydney Rabbitohs games
The Prime Minister caught up with Johnston after his record-breaking night
There was also a $20m fund over the next two years to ‘upgrade and restore Leichhardt Oval in Sydney’, the home of the Wests Tigers.
He also allocated $15m towards a permanent base for the North Queensland Cowboys’ women’s team at West Barlow park in Cairns.
This will include a training and recovery centre for the team.
The AFL though has not seen such luck in this year’s budget despite being such a major sport for Aussies.
The biggest beneficiaries being a local team as Wilston‐Grange Australian Football Club is getting $300,000 for new electronic screens.
There is no doubting Albo’s love for the NRL, he most recently appeared at the Rabbitohs game to see Alex Johnston’s make history.
He joined the on-field celebrations, presenting Johnston with a ceremonial ball to mark his 213th try.
Albanese told Nine: ‘It was worth it to be part of history’.
‘I was on the Souths board when we got kicked out of the comp and 100,000 people marched through the streets of Sydney,’ Albanese said.
‘A great moment for Alex Johnston. He’s been an extraordinary player but he’s also a great man, he’s so humble, and it was a great moment for rugby league and a great moment for South Sydney.’
A decision that saw him cop a fair bit of criticism for, as Aussies were quick to accuse the PM of trying to take the spotlight from Johnston.
‘Just how low can the Australian PM Albanese go? Alex Johnston breaks the all-time try scoring record in the NRL and our clown PM walks onto the field waving his scarf – not to congratulate Alex but to say look at me,’ one fan wrote.
‘Considering Albo can be identified, I assume he will be fined $5,500 and banned from all major venues for a year,’ another said.
And now Albo has made sure to include a not-insignificant portion of the budget to his beloved sport.
