Tasmania’s proposed $1.13 billion Hobart waterfront stadium will be “lost forever” if it isn’t approved now, Franklin MP David O’Byrne has warned.
The independent MP’s defence of the multi-purpose stadium comes as anti-stadium protesters prepare to rally on Parliament Lawns today.
With only the upper house left to sign off on the project, opponents will be hoping to sway any MLCs still undecided.
O’Byrne said critics questioning his support for the stadium while he opposed other government spending had it wrong.
“These are not binary choices in my view,” he said. “It’s not all one nor the other, that’s a far too simplistic way to view things.”
“Whilst I accept the stadium investment has not come at the best time and it’s not a small amount of money, the reality is that we do not have an option of just pushing this down the road.”
“We take it up now or it is lost forever.”
The MP said he believed strongly in the project’s long-term value.
“I believe that on balance the stadium will do much good for our community, for generations to come,” he said. “I truly believe in it.”
O’Byrne pointed to the Tasmanian Academy of Leadership in Sport as an example of how the investment was already delivering benefits.
He recently spoke to 50 young Tasmanians taking part in the academy.
“Inspiring young Tasmanians following their dreams,” he said.
He said his comments followed questions about why he continued to provide confidence and supply to Premier Jeremy Rockliff despite criticising some government decisions.
Avoiding constant elections was crucial, he said, after two polls in just 18 months.
“I felt I would be letting people down if I contributed to playing games and constant parliament upheaval,” O’Byrne said.
He noted other independents, the Greens and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party had also opted to support the Liberals over Labor.
“It was not a blanket endorsement of them. We will all continue to disagree with the government where appropriate and I for one will be as constructive as I can be to achieve better outcomes for the people I represent,” he said.
Stadium supporters will rally on Parliament Lawns next Sunday, ahead of the upper house’s decision in early December.
