Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hosed down suggestions that the federal government will prop up the NRL, should rugby league continue behind closed doors or shut down completely.
“The NRL is not high on the list at the moment,” the Prime Minister told 2GB on Monday morning, after ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys flagged a need for government intervention to help the competition.
Instead, the PM claims any funding will be directed towards health services.
“Addressing the health issues, hospitals, ensuring we have health work forces in place, aged care facilities, small business – making sure they’ve got cash flow support – and in particular casuals.”
V’landys, who secured $234 million in government assistance for the horseracing industry in the wake of 2007’s equine influenza, called on the government to prop up the NRL.
The NRL will go behind closed doors in round 2, with an expected hit in the multi-millions.
“I can’t stress enough our game has never faced a challenge like this,” V’landys said during Monday’s press conference alongside NRL CEO Todd Greenberg..
“The longer it takes, the more pressure on our financial viability. It could have catastrophic effects on us going forward.
“Our money will only last so long and once its extinguished we are in big trouble.
“An Australia without rugby league is not Australia.
“The government has to assist us in this crisis because it is not of our own doing.”
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V’landys doubled down on his assertions on Monday afternoon’s Continuous Call, saying says long term benefit of investing in the NRL far outweighs any cost.
“The government should include the NRL in their $17 billion economic stimulus because rugby league stimulates the whole economy.
“It provides significant amounts of the consolidated revenue, it pays a lot of taxes through player wages, catering staff, doctors; there are many, many tens of thousands of people directly or indirectly rely on rugby league.
“The government has to make an investment in us because it will get all of that money back in the future from taxes
“It’s not a handout; it’s an investment to ensure the game continues into the future.”
