Port fees are ‘out of control', say shipping lines
The Port of Fremantle, which is owned by the WA government, has raised mooring fees for all vessels over 5000 tonnes to $3300 per service from $835 previously for vessels arriving in its inner harbour, an increase of 295 per cent.
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The Age
27 minutes ago
- The Age
PNG NRL director stands down over corruption concerns
The man who led Papua New Guinea's campaign for a new NRL team has stood down from its board at the request of the country's prime minister as a corruption scandal engulfs the Albanese government's $600 million venture to counter China in the Pacific. Wapu Sonk, who chaired the bid to join the Australian competition in 2028 and was named last month as one of the incoming franchise's seven directors, stepped aside on Friday after this masthead revealed concerns he may have sought to financially benefit from his position as managing director of PNG's multibillion-dollar national oil company. 'I have spoken to Mr Sonk and, while he is currently overseas, I have requested that he step down from his role as a director on the PNG NRL franchise board effective immediately. He has agreed to do so,' PNG Prime Minister James Marape said. 'This reflects PNG's commitment to the highest standards of integrity, probity, and public trust.' This masthead uncovered suspect dealings between the Sonk-led Kumul Petroleum Holdings and a Chinese government-controlled entity over the upgrade of a PNG port, including a bid to funnel lucrative contracts to an Australian company owned by Sonk. The businessman is also facing questions about his use of a Brisbane home whose owner has won contracts with Kumul Petroleum. Marape said they were serious allegations which 'raise concerns that cannot be ignored'. 'This is not a presumption of guilt. Mr Sonk is entitled to due process and the opportunity to clear his name. Stepping down allows him the space to do so without casting a shadow over the franchise process or compromising the confidence of our partners,' he said. 'I want to reassure the people of Papua New Guinea, the Australian government, and the ARLC [Australian Rugby League Commission] that my government is committed to full transparency and co-operation with any relevant investigations. The integrity of this national franchise is paramount. We will not allow it to be undermined by external controversy.
Sydney Morning Herald
27 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The money and magic of Suaalii Inc
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made the short walk to his parked matte black Land Rover Defender on Lansdowne Street in Sydney's trendy inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. He'd just spent the day at a photo shoot for GQ magazine, dressed in more than $35,000 worth of luxury fashion goods and was carrying three tangerine-coloured Louis Vuitton shopping bags full of clothes back to his car. In a video uploaded to his Instagram from that day, the 21-year-old flashed more than $140,000 worth of goods in just one minute and 49 seconds. Though he's paid millions to play rugby, he likely kept the clothes for free. He'd arrived at Debut Studios earlier that day wearing a $225 jumper – a bargain compared to the outfits he would change into. In one shot, Suaalii wears a $3,500 baby-blue mohair sweater paired with jeans worth $3,150 and sneakers that cost $845 for each shoe. On his wrist, a stainless-steel watch worth $35,000. In another, a rugby polo, only this one costs $2,620, described as taking a 'chic twist' on the sportswear. In an ironic detail from that day, Debut Studios sits in Suite 61 on the sixth floor of the building. As Suaalii walks into frame, he looks out of an open window, offering a direct view of the Sydney Roosters club grounds he left last year for a deal with Rugby Australia worth $5.4 million. He turns back around, fixes his $2,000 shirt and faces the camera. Although being a teen sporting prodigy and achieving early career success on the field has increased the commercial value of Suaalii's name, there's more that separates his brand's capacity for profit from his teammates. Professor in sport management Adam Karg said what you look like, who you know, and how you behave are also significant in a brand choosing you to work with, especially one worth as much as Louis Vuitton's $51 billion brand. 'In order to be able to commercialise that brand, you do need, rightly or wrongly, a really strong set of eyeballs. Essentially, you need to be able to generate media interest,' Karg said. 'Now, that can come through physical appearance. It can come through, obviously, on the field, performance being a degree of that as well, and then really you need a brand to see something in you that connects with them and their audience.'
Sydney Morning Herald
27 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
PNG NRL director stands down over corruption concerns
The man who led Papua New Guinea's campaign for a new NRL team has stood down from its board at the request of the country's prime minister as a corruption scandal engulfs the Albanese government's $600 million venture to counter China in the Pacific. Wapu Sonk, who chaired the bid to join the Australian competition in 2028 and was named last month as one of the incoming franchise's seven directors, stepped aside on Friday after this masthead revealed concerns he may have sought to financially benefit from his position as managing director of PNG's multibillion-dollar national oil company. 'I have spoken to Mr Sonk and, while he is currently overseas, I have requested that he step down from his role as a director on the PNG NRL franchise board effective immediately. He has agreed to do so,' PNG Prime Minister James Marape said. 'This reflects PNG's commitment to the highest standards of integrity, probity, and public trust.' This masthead uncovered suspect dealings between the Sonk-led Kumul Petroleum Holdings and a Chinese government-controlled entity over the upgrade of a PNG port, including a bid to funnel lucrative contracts to an Australian company owned by Sonk. The businessman is also facing questions about his use of a Brisbane home whose owner has won contracts with Kumul Petroleum. Marape said they were serious allegations which 'raise concerns that cannot be ignored'. 'This is not a presumption of guilt. Mr Sonk is entitled to due process and the opportunity to clear his name. Stepping down allows him the space to do so without casting a shadow over the franchise process or compromising the confidence of our partners,' he said. 'I want to reassure the people of Papua New Guinea, the Australian government, and the ARLC [Australian Rugby League Commission] that my government is committed to full transparency and co-operation with any relevant investigations. The integrity of this national franchise is paramount. We will not allow it to be undermined by external controversy.
