- Anthony Albanese gets into the dispute with Gregor Haas
- NRL star Payne’s father faces drug plot charge
- He could be at risk of being sentenced to death if convicted.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Australian government will provide consular assistance to Gregor Haas.
Haas, 46, was arrested in Cebu City, Philippines, earlier this week and faces extradition to Indonesia.
He is the father of NRL and Brisbane Broncos superstar Payne Haas.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Albanese was questioned about the Australian government’s stance on the arrest, given that Haas Sr. risks facing the death penalty if convicted.
“The Australian Government has a bipartisan position to oppose the death penalty for a long period of time,” Albanese said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese enters the dispute with Gregor Haas
Gregor Johann Haas, the father of Brisbane Broncos superstar Payne Haas, poses for his mugshot after being arrested in the Philippines.
‘That continues to be our position and we always make arrangements. Naturally, the accusations that have been made are at a very early stage.
“We will provide consular assistance to Mr Hass, as we do to all Australian citizens in such circumstances.”
Haas is detained in the Philippines and authorities are reportedly working to extradite him to Indonesia.
Albanese said his government will fight for Haas.
“We will continue to make diplomatic representations in an appropriate manner,” Albanese said regarding the deportation.
“One of the things the Australian government does is stand up for Australian citizens, make the appropriate representations through diplomatic channels and we will do that again on this occasion.”
The head of the Public Relations and Protocol Office of the National Narcotics Board (BNN), Brigadier General Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono, stated that the 46-year-old man had been tracked down by the Indonesian authorities following a drug trafficking case that occurred on December 5 of last year, after having allegedly been found. with 5k of crystal methamphetamine.
‘We will take him away immediately. He used to move around a lot, not only in Indonesia but also in other countries,” Hartono told Indonesian news agency ANTARA.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that any other member of the Haas family was involved in Gregor Haas’s alleged conduct.
Broncos star Payne took to the field for his team on Friday night in the team’s 13-12 win over Manly, and coach Kevin Walters insisted the club is providing all the necessary support for his man star.
Payne Haas (left) and her father Gregor pictured at the 2019 Dally M Awards
“Payne is a very strong person and so is his family. “A lot of people probably don’t understand or realize who Payne is,” Walters said.
“He’s a tremendous guy, a great family person and at this time he’s going through we will surround him in every way we can to support him and his family.” That’s all we can do.
“Payne is a great person of integrity … and what he is doing with his family even before this incident is something we should have a lot of respect for.”