- Anthony Albanese has entered the queue ahead of Gregor Haas
- NRL star Payne’s father has been accused of a drug conspiracy
- If found guilty, he faces the death penalty
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Australian government will provide consular assistance to Gregor Haas.
Haas, 46, was arrested earlier this week in Cebu City, Philippines and faces extradition to Indonesia.
He is the father of NRL and Brisbane Broncos superstar Payne Haas.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Albanese was asked about the Australian government’s position on the arrest, as Haas Sr risks the death penalty if found guilty.
“The Australian government has a bipartisan position and has long opposed the death penalty,” Albanese said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has waded into the Gregor Haas row
Gregor Johann Haas, father of Brisbane Broncos superstar Payne Haas, poses for his mugshot after being arrested in the Philippines
‘That remains our position and we always object to it. It’s obviously at a very early stage in the allegations that have been made.
“We will provide consular assistance to Mr Hass, as we do for all Australian citizens in such circumstances.”
Haas is being held in the Philippines and authorities are reportedly working on his extradition to Indonesia.
Albanese said his government will fight for Haas.
“We will continue to make appropriate diplomatic representations,” Albanese said of the deportation.
“One of the things the Australian government does is we stand up for Australian citizens, we take appropriate action through diplomatic channels, and we will do that again on this occasion.”
Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Office of the National Narcotics Council (BNN), Brigadier General Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono, said the 46-year-old had been tracked by Indonesian authorities following a December 5 drug trafficking case last year, after he was allegedly found with 5k crystal methamphetamine.
‘We’ll take him away immediately. He moved a lot, not only to Indonesia but also to other countries,” Hartono said, via Indonesian news agency ANTARA.
Ny Breaking Australia is not suggesting that other members of the Haas family are involved in Gregor Haas’ alleged conduct.
Broncos star Payne took to the field for his side in the team’s 13-12 win over Manly on Friday evening, with coach Kevin Walters insisting the club would provide all the support needed for their star man.
Payne Haas (left) and his father Gregor are pictured at the 2019 Dally M Awards
‘Payne is a very strong individual and so is his family. A lot of people probably don’t understand or realize who Payne is,” Walters said.
“He’s a great guy, a great family man and at this time he’s going through, we’ll try to get around him in any way we can to support him and his family. That’s all we can do.
“Payne is just such a wonderful person of integrity … and what he does with his family, even before this incident, is something that we should have great respect for.”