Uproar over NRL trophy delivery fee 

Source: Photosport

It cost almost $A40,000 to deliver the NRL grand final trophy by Black Hawk helicopter to ANZ Stadium last year.

Freedom of Information documents obtained by AAP reveal the cost of the army chopper and soldiers to entertain the crowd was $A38,137.

Despite a request for "information about what person or organisation paid for the chopper to fly that day", Defence chose to expunge large amounts of information in the documents and it remains unclear who paid for delivery of the trophy.

The chopper delivered the trophy and match day ball and also "bowed" to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd before leading a Mexican wave and then leaving before kick-off, in the match between Parramatta and Melbourne.

The use of the helicopter falls under a public relations program run by defence called the Public Events of Significance Program - the full cost of this program also was deleted by Defence from the documents.

"These events offer opportunities for defence to maximise publicity and recruiting opportunities," the documents say.

"Public access to Australian Defence Force personnel, in conjunction with visual displays, should generate higher interest in defence, including employment opportunities."

Defence Minister John Faulkner signed off on the plan on June 8 last year, along with Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.

The ministerial note signed by both men does talk of cost recovery for such events but goes on to inform both Senator Faulkner and Air Chief Marshal Houston "precedence exists for you to waive this requirement".

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